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Modeling and Evaluating Pilot Performance in NextGen: Review of and Recommendations Regarding Pilot Modeling Efforts, Architectures, and Validation StudiesNextGen operations are associated with a variety of changes to the national airspace system (NAS) including changes to the allocation of roles and responsibilities among operators and automation, the use of new technologies and automation, additional information presented on the flight deck, and the entire concept of operations (ConOps). In the transition to NextGen airspace, aviation and air operations designers need to consider the implications of design or system changes on human performance and the potential for error. To ensure continued safety of the NAS, it will be necessary for researchers to evaluate design concepts and potential NextGen scenarios well before implementation. One approach for such evaluations is through human performance modeling. Human performance models (HPMs) provide effective tools for predicting and evaluating operator performance in systems. HPMs offer significant advantages over empirical, human-in-the-loop testing in that (1) they allow detailed analyses of systems that have not yet been built, (2) they offer great flexibility for extensive data collection, (3) they do not require experimental participants, and thus can offer cost and time savings. HPMs differ in their ability to predict performance and safety with NextGen procedures, equipment and ConOps. Models also vary in terms of how they approach human performance (e.g., some focus on cognitive processing, others focus on discrete tasks performed by a human, while others consider perceptual processes), and in terms of their associated validation efforts. The objectives of this research effort were to support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in identifying HPMs that are appropriate for predicting pilot performance in NextGen operations, to provide guidance on how to evaluate the quality of different models, and to identify gaps in pilot performance modeling research, that could guide future research opportunities. This research effort is intended to help the FAA evaluate pilot modeling efforts and select the appropriate tools for future modeling efforts to predict pilot performance in NextGen operations.
Document ID
20140002223
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Wickens, Christopher
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Sebok, Angelia
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Keller, John
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Peters, Steve
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Small, Ronald
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Hutchins, Shaun
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Algarin, Liana
(Alion Science and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Gore, Brian Francis
(San Jose State Univ. San Jose, CA, United States)
Hooey, Becky Lee
(San Jose State Univ. San Jose, CA, United States)
Foyle, David C.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
March 20, 2014
Publication Date
April 1, 2013
Subject Category
Behavioral Sciences
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN8278
TH-094
NASA/TM-2013-216504
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX12AB08A
OTHER: DTFAWA-10-X-8005 Annex 5
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
pilot human performance models
NextGen
human performance
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