Enhancing Mission Success : Perspectives on Adaptive Human-Machine Interfaces

Sammanfattning: As part of a project within Saab Aeronautics, a Swedish Fighter Aircraft industry, this study was conducted. The fighter pilot is under immense pressure as he/she ventures into the complex environment that is airspace and air combat in a hostile area. The HMI (Human Machine Interface) is the pilot and aircrafts common denominator that leads to mission success but has its limitations. An Adaptive Human-Machine Interface (AHMI) is an HMI that is modified to help the pilot despite the situation he/she finds themselves in. The AHMI has many tasks but what gives it its edge is the adaptivity to different situations and to assist the pilot’s well-being. This can be done via proper visualization of information but also automation of lesser tasks. Mission success depends on physiological parameters such as mental workload and situational awareness to attain optimized operative performance. In this thesis we delve into the depths of what is important in AHMI and the requirements that are needed to produce and demonstrate the AHMI. The mapping of requirements onto simulators is an important aspect to move forward with the development of AHMI. Literature reviews and interviews were conducted in order to learn more about the domain and answer the research questions. The interviewees concur that the proper way of mapping requirements is dependent on what is supposed to be investigated. Is it a graphical component, principle, function or scenario? Through the comparison between the literature and thematic analysis through the interviews it was found that the mapping of requirements is dependent on what is to be investigated. Further, AHMI is deemed an effective support system for the pilot and that autonomy is effective to a certain extent. But when autonomy takes too much control the pilot loses situational awareness and therefore performs worse. Within the project, there is a common consensus between the interviewed subjects that AHMI is the way to move forward with fighter aircraft cockpit development.