Man-machine Complex Research Articles

Set-theoretical model of homeostasis of group activity of operators of ergatic systems in conditions of negative impact environmental factors

Among the most significant system properties of such complex technical objects as man-machine complexes, it should be noted the possibility of unauthorized actions of operators or control personnel in subjectively difficult situations. During operation, these properties determine the need to consider the area of potential situations of control of man-machine complexes that were not provided for by the developers during the design.Traditionally, this problem arises at the stage of the operation of the complexes, when situations of the system functioning unforeseen by the developers arise from time to time. Further, they form the basis of projects for the modernization or improvement of this type of equipment. The purpose of this work is to consider the constructive conceptual apparatus, methods of analysis, including formal means of identifying and assessing the functional redundancy of organizational structures of operational management systems and to develop principles for its use to ensure the homeostaticity of group activities of operators in conditions of negative influence of environmental factors. The article systematizes the basic concepts and definitions of homeostasis of group activity of operators of control groups of modern man-machine complexes. On the basis of the set-theoretic model, the conditions for increasing the stability of the activity of a group of operators in conditions of the negative impact of external factors are determined. The set-theoretical analysis of the functionally redundant organizational structure of operational management systems carried out in the article makes it possible to determine the conditions and mechanisms for expanding the area of homeostasis of the functioning of the organizational structures of control systems, the implementation of which is associated with the methods of coordinating and motivational influence on operators, improving the structure of their information and functional interactions and substitutions (emulation) of the functions of the operators of the degrading control group.

Теоретико-прикладные вопросы отбора и подготовки операторов человеко-машинных комплексов в отечественной эргономике

The main criteria, stages and directions of professional selection of operators of the "man-machine-environment" systems are revealed. Mathematical models of professional aptitude assessment based on the use of a sequential probability ratio and the theory of pattern recognition are presented. Given the approach to assessment of efficiency of professional selection, taking into account the accuracy, reliability and validity of the forecast of professional suitability of operators and the possibility of assessing the professional suitability of operators and the quality of the workplace for temporary tochnostyu and probabilistic indicators. Modern training technologies used in military and civil man-machine complexes are considered.

Ergonomic Factors in Patenting Computer Systems for Personnel's Selection and Training

The authors identify ergonomic factors related to the composition, structure and typical functions in the process of taking into account the criteria for the protection of inventions when patenting technical solutions in the field of professional selection and training of operators and drivers of military and civil man-machine complexes. The article describes the ergonomic capabilities of selection methods and devices, technical results from the introduction of virtual, hardware-software and computer simulators for training welders, locomotive drivers, radar systems' operators, operator of remotely piloted aircraft, vehicles' mechanics-drivers. For the selection of patents in subclasses of inventions, criteria for expert evaluation of their ergonomics were first proposed based on such criteria as manageability, serviceability and usability.in total, three experts were involved, and the consistency of the solution (the concordance coefficient) during selection was w=0.67. In advanced research related to the construction of automated patent search systems, it is necessary to develop decisive rules for the selection of inventions. The authors of the article plan to develop criteria for the ergonomics of selected inventions for further analysis of promising systems for selecting and training specialists in such IPC categories as G09B9/00, G06F15/20 and A61B5/16.

Теоретико-прикладные вопросы отбора и подготовки операторов человеко-машинных комплексов в отечественной эргономике

The main criteria, stages and directions of professional selection of operators of the "man-machine-environment" systems are revealed. Mathematical models of professional aptitude assessment based on the use of a sequential probability ratio and the theory of pattern recognition are presented. Given the approach to assessment of efficiency of professional selection, taking into account the accuracy, reliability and validity of the forecast of professional suitability of operators and the possibility of assessing the professional suitability of operators and the quality of the workplace for temporary tochnostyu and probabilistic indicators. Modern training technologies used in military and civil man-machine complexes are considered.

Basics of Adaptive Information Security Systems

Over the past few decades, there has been a tendency to minimize the participation of the human factor in various production and other processes. This process is implemented through the mass introduction of automated systems. Man-machine complexes are currently the most common and productive model of activity. At the current stage of technology development, the process of human activity automation is only an intermediate link on the way to excluding human intervention. This direction is the most relevant for systems that have a potential and real threat to human health and life (for example, manufacturing plants) or systems that are threatened by a person (for example, transport systems). The second group includes the sphere of information security. There is a need to move to the next level of excluding the human factor – introducing adaptive systems that will transfer the process of information protection in a completely different plane. The organization of adaptive information security systems is based on applying existing methods of adaptation from other areas of scientific knowledge in relation to information security issues. Features of such application of the generalized principles of adaptation reflect the specifics of the subject area without violating generally accepted norms. This article discusses the general principles of adaptive systems. It investigates the existing approaches to the organization of adaptive information security systems as well.

Human reliability analysis (HRA) techniques and observational clinical HRA

This review explains the nature of human reliability analysis (HRA) methods developed and used for predicting safety in high-risk human activities. HRA techniques have evolved over the years and have become less subjective as a result of inclusion of (i) cognitive factors in the man-machine interface and (ii) high and low dependency levels between human failure events (HFEs). All however remain probabilistic in the assessment of safety. In the translation of these techniques, developed for assessment of safety of high-risk industries (nuclear, aerospace etc.) where catastrophic failures from the man-machine complex interface are fortunately rare, to the clinical operative surgery (with its high incidence of human errors), the system loses subjectivity since the documentation of HFEs can be assessed and studied prospectively on the basis of an objective data capture of errors enacted during a defined clinical activity. The observational clinical-HRA (OC-HRA) was developed specifically for this purpose, initially for laparoscopic general surgery. It has however been used by other surgical specialties. OC-HRA has the additional merit of objective determination of the proficiency of a surgeon in executing specific interventions and is adaptable to the evaluation of safety and proficiency in clinical activities within the preoperative and postoperative periods.

Brain Activation in a Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand

Historically, rehabilitation of amputees has focused on developing prostheses, adjusting them to fit the limb, and then submitting the patient to extensive "training" programs. The objective of this study was to investigate whether stimuli from the sensorimotor cortex, observed through functional magnetic resonance imaging, comprises a neuronal network that permits the control of a myoelectric prosthetic hand. A comprehensive review of the subject was conducted, and a specific case is presented to illustrate the hypothesis. In a self-controlled designed study, a 13-year-old girl with congenital amputation of the right hand was tested to verify if the brain can control fine motor movement of a myoelectric prosthetic hand. Functional magnetic resonance images were conducted to assess whether there was a relationship between brain activation and control of the prosthesis. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected to investigate brain activation during the actual opening and closing of the existent hand and during the contraction of the remaining stump muscles used for opening and closing the myoelectric prosthetic hand. Similar activation was found in the brain hemispheres that control the myoelectric and existing hands. When the patient moved the prosthetic hand, activation was observed in the brain's sensorimotor and visual cortexes and the cerebellum. These data suggest that the patient was controlling and also perceiving that the artificial hand was performing movements. This study suggests that it may be possible to control speed, force, and modulation of a myoelectric prosthesis through impulses emitted by specific brain areas. Further research in brain control and improvement of myoelectric prosthesis will lead to a more holistic approach in the development of a man-machine complex.

Engineering and Police Cooperation in Design and Operation of the Newark Airport Interchange Traffic Surveillance and Control System

The New Jersey Department of Transportation is developing a traffic surveillance and control system which will afford the Newark Airport Interchange area a high level of traffic management. The system will be composed of several related subsystems which will interact to detect, verify and respond to highway incidents. These subsystems are: traffic incident detection, closed circuit television, motorist aid call boxes, emergency vehicle monitoring, emergency vehicle routing, motorist alternate routing, and electronic master controller. The surveillance and control system is designed as a man-machine complex with careful consideration of the interaction of police responsibilities, which require the direct application of human judgment and police experience to the situations encountered, and computer capabilities for surveillance, verification and response during these emergencies.

Communication between Man and Machine

The inclusion of computer-based assemblies into man-machine complexes has enhanced the relevance of characteristics of the human link in the system. In particular, the virtues and limitations for transmission of information among the physical subsystems through a human channel is an important consideration in systems design. The current status of the supporting research for this area is briefly summarized. The related but more recondite area covering communication between man and computer is also important to the effectiveness of man-machine complexes. However, supporting research for this area is meager and most of it is contained in engineering psychology studies pertinent to the needs of specific systems. Research facilities more appropriate for the exploratory needs of both areas are becoming available and these presage the broad intensive programs needed to provide research guidance to the systems design of man-machine complexes.