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Baron, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Baron, S..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

An analysis of the application of AI to the development of intelligent aids for flight crew tasks

This report presents the results of a study aimed at developing a basis for applying artificial intelligence to the flight deck environment of commercial transport aircraft. In particular, the study was comprised of four tasks: (1) analysis of flight crew tasks, (2) survey of the state-of-the-art of relevant artificial intelligence areas, (3) identification of human factors issues relevant to intelligent cockpit aids, and (4) identification of artificial intelligence areas requiring further research.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

F-14 modeling study

Preliminary results in the application of a closed loop pilot/simulator model to the analysis of some simulator fidelity issues are discussed in the context of an air to air target tracking task. The closed loop model is described briefly. Then, problem simplifications that are employed to reduce computational costs are discussed. Finally, model results showing sensitivity of performance to various assumptions concerning the simulator and/or the pilot are presented.

Levison, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

An optimal control model approach to the design of compensators for simulator delay

The effects of display delay on pilot performance and workload and of the design of the filters to ameliorate these effects were investigated. The optimal control model for pilot/vehicle analysis was used both to determine the potential delay effects and to design the compensators. The model was applied to a simple roll tracking task and to a complex hover task. The results confirm that even small delays can degrade performance and impose a workload penalty. A time-domain compensator designed by using the optimal control model directly appears capable of providing extensive compensation for these effects even in multi-input, multi-output problems.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

PROCRU: A model for analyzing flight crew procedures in approach to landing

A model for the human performance of approach and landing tasks that would provide a means for systematic exploration of questions concerning the impact of procedural and equipment design and the allocation of resources in the cockpit on performance and safety in approach-to-landing is discussed. A system model is needed that accounts for the interactions of crew, procedures, vehicle, approach geometry, and environment. The issues of interest revolve principally around allocation of tasks in the cockpit and crew performance with respect to the cognitive aspects of the tasks. The model must, therefore, deal effectively with information processing and decision-making aspects of human performance.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

On the internal target model in a tracking task

An optimal control model for predicting operator's dynamic responses and errors in target tracking ability is summarized. The model, which predicts asymmetry in the tracking data, is dependent on target maneuvers and trajectories. Gunners perception, decision making, control, and estimate of target positions and velocity related to crossover intervals are discussed. The model provides estimates for means, standard deviations, and variances for variables investigated and for operator estimates of future target positions and velocities.

Caglayan, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Pilot/vehicle model analysis of visual and motion cue requirements in flight simulation

The optimal control model for pilot/vehicle analysis is used to explore the effects of a CGI visual system and motion system dynamics on helicopter hover simulation fidelity. This is accomplished by expanding the perceptual aspects of the model to include motion sensing and by relating CGI parameters to information processing parameters of the model. Simulator fidelity is examined by comparing predicted performance and workload for flight with that predicted for various simulator configuration. The results of the analysis suggest that simulator deficiencies or a reasonable nature (by current standards) can result in substantial performance and/or workload infidelity. Both CGI and motion system effects are significant for this task. There is also a distinct interaction between the two sources of pilot cues. In particular, the presence of motion reduces the sensitivity to CGI limitations.

Lancraft, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

PROCRU: A model for analyzing crew procedures in approach to landing

A model for analyzing crew procedures in approach to landing is developed. The model employs the information processing structure used in the optimal control model and in recent models for monitoring and failure detection. Mechanisms are added to this basic structure to model crew decision making in this multi task environment. Decisions are based on probability assessments and potential mission impact (or gain). Sub models for procedural activities are included. The model distinguishes among external visual, instrument visual, and auditory sources of information. The external visual scene perception models incorporate limitations in obtaining information. The auditory information channel contains a buffer to allow for storage in memory until that information can be processed.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Closed loop models for analyzing engineering requirements for simulators

A closed loop analytic model, incorporating a model for the human pilot, (namely, the optimal control model) that would allow certain simulation design tradeoffs to be evaluated quantitatively was developed. This model was applied to a realistic flight control problem. The resulting model is used to analyze both overall simulation effects and the effects of individual elements. The results show that, as compared to an ideal continuous simulation, the discrete simulation can result in significant performance and/or workload penalties.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Closed loop models for analyzing the effects of simulator characteristics

The optimal control model of the human operator is used to develop closed loop models for analyzing the effects of (digital) simulator characteristics on predicted performance and/or workload. Two approaches are considered: the first utilizes a continuous approximation to the discrete simulation in conjunction with the standard optimal control model; the second involves a more exact discrete description of the simulator in a closed loop multirate simulation in which the optimal control model simulates the pilot. Both models predict that simulator characteristics can have significant effects on performance and workload.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Combined monitoring, decision and control model for the human operator in a command and control desk

A report is given on the ongoing efforts to mode the human operator in the context of the task during the enroute/return phases in the ground based control of multiple flights of remotely piloted vehicles (RPV). The approach employed here uses models that have their analytical bases in control theory and in statistical estimation and decision theory. In particular, it draws heavily on the modes and the concepts of the optimal control model (OCM) of the human operator. The OCM is being extended into a combined monitoring, decision, and control model (DEMON) of the human operator by infusing decision theoretic notions that make it suitable for application to problems in which human control actions are infrequent and in which monitoring and decision-making are the operator's main activities. Some results obtained with a specialized version of DEMON for the RPV control problem are included.

Muralidharan, R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Closed loop models for analyzing the effects of simulator characteristics

The optimal control model (OCM) of the human operator is used to develop closed-loop models for analyzing the effects of (digital) simulator characteristics on predicted performance and/or workload. Two approaches are considered: the first utilizes a continuous approximation to the discrete simulation in conjunction with the standard optimal control model; the second involves a more exact discrete description of the simulator in a closed-loop multi-rate simulation in which the optimal control model 'simulates' the pilot. Both models predict that simulator characteristics can have significant effects on performance and workload.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Display analysis with the optimal control model of the human operator

Application of the optimal control model of the human operator to problems in display analysis is discussed. Those aspects of the model pertaining to the operator-display interface and to operator information processing are reviewed and discussed. The techniques are then applied to the analysis of advanced display/control systems for a Terminal Configured Vehicle. Model results are compared with those obtained in a large, fixed-base simulation.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A manual control theory analysis of vertical situation displays for STOL aircraft

Pilot-vehicle-display systems theory is applied to the analysis of proposed vertical situation displays for manual control in approach-to-landing of a STOL aircraft. The effects of display variables on pilot workload and on total closed-loop system performance was calculated using an optimal-control model for the human operator. The steep approach of an augmentor wing jet STOL aircraft was analyzed. Both random turbulence and mean-wind shears were considered. Linearized perturbation equations were used to describe longitudinal and lateral dynamics of the aircraft. The basic display configuration was one that abstracted the essential status information (including glide-slope and localizer errors) of an EADI display. Proposed flight director displays for both longitudinal and lateral control were also investigated.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A display evaluation methodology applied to vertical situation displays

An approach to display evaluation based on the optimal-control or state-variable model of the human operator is described. The approach evolved over the past several years, and is believed to have significant advantages for display evaluation. The foundations of the methodology are briefly described, and results are presented of its application to the analysis of vertical situation displays for STOL approach. This analysis includes the effects of both status and command displays on pilot workload and system performance.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Analysis of response to wind-shears using the optimal control model of the human operator

The effects of wind-shears on the approach performance of a STOL aircraft are analyzed using the optimal-control model of the human operator. This analysis involves a time-varying situation that is more complex than is traditionally treated by human operator modelling techniques. The extensions to the time-varying case are discussed and results are presented that illustrate the effects of wind shears on category II window-performance and the effects on performance of pilot time-delay and of variations in pilot gain during approach.

Baron, S.↗