Adaptive automation and its health and safety challenges

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: This article is a short communique on the subject of Adaptive Automation. Autonomous systems function reliably and effectively, but are workers involved? …better protected? A discussion about when and how workers can, will and/or should integrate with adaptive automated and autonomous systems. Method: A partial literature review was conducted and it was coupled with the author’s thoughts and opinions on the concept and application of adaptive automation. The author’s research of the changing roles of humans in the control systems has been incorporated. Results and conclusions: Human error has driven us to explore automation. The expectation has been that with the human out of the loop, risk of error and injury will decline, however, it is not yet well understood what that decline in risk will look like or what the impact on worker health and safety will be, especially in individual cases. It is generally accepted that human involvement will become more critical, however, concern still exists around skill-decay type incidents when the worker is removed from the control loop and then has to rapidly rejoin the loop if and when something goes wrong. Practical Application: Adaptive automation responds to the engagement question essential to human–machine system performance and therefore, an understanding of the concept and application can be used to inform design decisions about function allocation as control systems are being designed and built.