The applicability of human-centred automation guidelines in the fighter aircraft domain

  • Authors:

  • Tove Helldin;Göran Falkman;Jens Alfredson;Johan Holmberg

  • Affiliations:

  • University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden;University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden;Saab AB, Aeronautics, Linköping, Sweden;Saab AB, Aeronautics, Linköping, Sweden

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 29th Annual European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

Motivation -- To guide the development of human-centred automation within the fighter aircraft domain. Research approach -- Identified human-centred automation guidelines have been analysed in relation to existing fighter aircraft automated functions together with system developers at Saab Aeronautics. Findings/Design -- The results show that the human-centred automation guidelines have been considered during the development process. From these results, implications for the design of guidelines and for the design of automated systems in the aircraft domain are drawn. Research limitations/Implications -- Deeper analysis of how automated functions can support pilots in future fighter aircraft is needed since the proposed guidelines are too general for the military fighter aircraft domain. Thus, future work involves an evaluation of the guidelines together with fighter aircraft system developers and/or military strategists. Such analysis must be carried out with specific automated functions in mind. Originality/Value -- By comparing with existing automated functions, the research makes contributions to HCA guidelines to be used in the fighter aircraft domain. Suggestions of human-centred automation improvements within the fighter aircraft domain are presented. The analysis has also identified differences between the proposed guidelines and parts of the studied implementation examples. Take away message -- The HCA guidelines must be adapted according to the specific tasks that the automated functions are intended to assist the operators with. To adapt the automation according to the level of experience of the operators as well as to expand the cooperative automation functions between aircraft in a team have been identified as future directions for automation improvements within the fighter aircraft domain.