Functional Mapping as Means for Establishing a Human Factors Research Environment for Future Air Systems

Abstract

A typical environment for human factors research has equipment and methods for performing a set of experiments such as mental workload assessment, situational awareness evaluation, human resilience measurement and so forth. The common aspect between equipment and methods is that they accomplish a function. The TLX method is part of such an environment because it evaluates the mental workload; an EEG helmet is part of the same research environment because it measures the electrical activity originated by the brain. If the functional structure of a method or equipment is yet to be known, a method for function deployment might be used to this purpose such as FAST. Although cognitive processes in many regards are very different from functions in technical systems, it is possible to describe them in terms of functions for the sake using it for design considerations. For instance, the information-processing paradigm has inspired descriptions that in some regards could be described in functional terms. The multiple resource theory that outlines different mental resources related to various modalities and stages of processing is another example of that. Then a functional mapping engine identifies the equipment and method that address the cognitive functions required for a given experiment. A very simple example of functional mapping is as follows: the cognitive module <vision> has a function X {to track objects}. The equipment *eye tracker* and the method # EPOG – Eye Point of Gaze# have the functions Y [To look at through computer vision] and Z [to track objects]. The mapping among functions X, Y and Z indicate the equipment and method are suitable for addressing the cognitive characteristic under investigation. On the one hand, if an equipment or method do exist, then the functional mapping assist the research environment designer to identify them and help choosing if several options are available. On the other hand, if an equipment or method do not exist, then the functional mapping assist the research environment designer to design and build them. Moving forward from the very simple example to a more practical and realistic situation, the functional mapping can tackle the issues of choosing the necessary functions – from both sides, cognitive and equipment and methods – to meet fidelity requirements of an experiment. This is suggested to be resolved by the cost-benefit trade-off approach detailed as follows. Based on the functional mapping, selective fidelity can be obtained for modeling and simulation considerations. Thereby advantages and disadvantages of the human factors research environment for future air systems could be balanced by the functional mapping, potentially optimizing the use of simulations. System border definition ought to be considered; the border definition practice borrowed from aircraft product/system configuration can be used to this end. Selective fidelity has been applied to transfer of training in military aviation and simulator based design has been shown to be useful for development of air systems. The proposed functional mapping approach could have the potential of adding to this tradition.Design and Comissioning of a Human Factors Laboratory for Aeronautic