Exploring relationships of human-automation interaction consequences on pilots: uncovering subsystems.

OBJECTIVE

We attempted to understand the latent structure underlying the systems pilots use to operate in situations involving human-automation interaction (HAI).

BACKGROUND

HAI is an important characteristic of many modern work situations. Of course, the cognitive subsystems are not immediately apparent by observing a functioning system, but correlations between variables may reveal important relations.

METHOD: The current report examined pilot judgments of 11 HAI dimensions (e.g., Workload, Task Management, Stress/Nervousness, Monitoring Automation, and Cross-Checking Automation) across 48 scenarios that required airline pilots to interact with automation on the flight deck.

RESULTS

We found three major clusters of the dimensions identifying subsystems on the flight deck: a workload subsystem, a management subsystem, and an awareness subsystem.

DISCUSSION: Relationships characterized by simple correlations cohered in ways that suggested underlying subsystems consistent with those that had previously been theorized.

APPLICATION: Understanding the relationship among dimensions affecting HAI is an important aspect in determining how a new piece of automation designed to affect one dimension will affect other dimensions as well.