Abstract

The Human Machine Interface (HMI) design is a critical field of work because no general guidelines or rules have been assessed. In order to aid practitioners to design effective HMIs, different methodologies have been studied. To understand task objectives and plan goal-oriented actions, human operators exploit specific cognitive processes that have to be supported with advanced interfaces. Including cognitive aspects in HMI design allows generating an information flow that reduces user mental workload, increasing his/her situation awareness. This paper will explore a real designing phase of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the telenavigation of a space rover that makes the cognitive process of the user a priority in relation to the other development guidelines. To achieve this, the method described in this paper combines a Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA), known as Applied Cognitive Work Analysis (ACWA), with a multi-agent empirical test to ensure the GUI effectiveness. The ACWA allows to evaluate mission scenarios, i.e. piloting the rover on the Mars surface, in order to obtain a model of the human cognitive demands that arise in these complex work domains. These demands can be used to obtain an effective information flow between the GUI and the operator. The multi-agent empirical test, on the other hand, allows an early feedback on the user mental workload aiming to validate the GUI. The result of the methodology is a GUI that eases the information flow through the interface, enhancing operator’s performance.

Highlights

  • In today’s world, many systems are remotely operated or supervised by individuals who are decision makers

  • In the second test, only two of the testers reach the final point F within the time restriction. Both of them possess a secure attachment style (Table 7). This means that the secure attachment style, in which subjects are characterized by consistency, autonomy and self-confidence, may have a positive impact on the relationship of “trust” that is

  • This paper presents the development of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for remote control of a rover in a planetary environment and the following testing phase to evaluate its performance regarding users’ Situation Awareness (SA) and Mental Workload (MW)

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Summary

Introduction

In today’s world, many systems are remotely operated or supervised by individuals who are decision makers. The planning, monitoring and controling of many of these systems are supported via visual display units. Applications that heavily depend on teleoperation and telenavigation are space exploration missions. Complex and dangerous conditions — deriving from environmental hazards — may occur to humans involved in these missions usually performed with supervised systems. As an example, Biesiadecki et al (2007) state that “successful operation of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) vehicles has depended on both manuallydirected and autonomous driving. The two methods are complementary and careful selection of the right technique leads to better overall performance”. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) design becomes a critical task in mission accomplishment, enhancing operator’s Situation Awareness (SA) and control capabilities

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