UNMANNED SYSTEMS: HUMAN FACTOR PROBLEMS

Abstract

With the creation of unmanned systems the development of ergonomics has entered a new stage in studying human-machine interaction and exacerbated safety issues. The requirements for safety, resistance to failures and reliability of the systems and their main connection – the human operator, were changed. New challenges – new human problems in digital systems. Digitization has made it possible to create unmanned systems, but it has also created an ergonomic contradiction between intentions and results. Its essence is that, in contrast to the expected increase in efficiency and safety, the increase in unmanned systems automation leads to an increase in the risks associated with human influence. Unmanned aerial systems have unique ergonomic challenges related to the specifics of the UAV operator and the technical features of the UAVs themselves as complex systems. In this regard, it is relevant to analyze the reasons for the continuing manifestations of the human factor phenomenon in the functioning of unmanned systems and the search for ways to reduce them. The purpose is to study the human factor problem in complex systems that use information and communication technologies, using the example of unmanned aircraft systems. The article takes a critical look at the human factor issues in unmanned aviation that are not being addressed by existing approaches. An iceberg model of change management in the safety of complex systems is proposed. It is shown that the human factor in unmanned systems arises and severely decreases because of the nontransdisciplinary nature of the education of modern engineers and operators. And the essential role in overcoming this problem is knowledge aimed at understanding the capabilities and limitations of a person as the main link of the system, which then makes decisions in the management process. It is shown that it is necessary to pay considerable attention to the development of ergonomic thinking among everyone whose activities relate to the life cycle of a complex system. That is, it is the transdisciplinarity of the education of specialists that allows for reducing the specified risks of human-machine interaction.