Functional Area 3.8 Human Factors, Performance, and Usability Engineering Support
Under numerous contracts, S7 Team members have provided a wide range of support related to human factors and crew systems engineering associated with the E-2C, F/A-18, EA-6B, H-60, JSF, UAVs, MFOQA, Ground stations, Maintenance Aides, Computer System interfaces, and process integration efforts. Efforts have included a human factors assessment of the EA-6B Improved Capability Program to optimize equipment usability, evaluation of human factors issues associated with the implementation of a major F/A-18 avionics upgrade program, testing of the operator/system interfaces for MH-60 TechEval, optimization of information presentation systems for MFOQA and the HIMARS supply chain system, impact analysis and ‘change management’ planning in support of the deployment of maintainer job performance aides, and ergonomic development/refinement of the Advanced Multispectral Optical Surveillance System (AMOSS). Other efforts have included simulation prototyping for human system cockpit integration design issues such as: helmet-mounted displays, cockpit lighting techniques, hand controls, and multifunction display font sizes; Information Portal redesign for increased efficiency, analysis of information presentation within IETMs; and validation of the efficacy of crew station mock-ups.
Under contract N00421-04-C-0011 (and its predecessors), S7 Team member Wyle provides engineering support as a subcontractor for the NAWCAD 4.6, Crew Systems Engineering Modeling and Simulation Lab and Unmanned Air Vehicle Lab. Efforts include development of the Global Visualization System, an advanced visual system that is used for terrain database development, eye tracking, mission rehearsal, visual cueing, distributed interactive simulation, and display technology analysis. Engineers utilize the Global Visualization System to provide the laboratory with a Battle Space Visualization Tool for Command and Control functions. Other tasking has included development, test, and integration of displays and controls to support modifications to UAVs, and testing of a prototype version of the Tactical Control Station (TCS) to collect data for the final TCS design.
Under contract N00421-99-D-1698, S7 Team member DCS provided Human Factors Engineering support to the NAVAIR Avionics Department, Code 4.5.5.6 during the design of the Advanced Multispectral Optical Surveillance System (AMOSS) operator workstation. DCS reviewed and critiqued early prototype design concepts for adherence to accepted human factors engineering and ergonomic design practices. DCS interviewed project personnel, system users, and subject matter experts to identify job performance requirements. DCS made systematic observations of operators using the predecessor system to identify mission tasks, performance requirements, and critical errors. DCS made recommendations to the project POC for minimizing workload, fatigue, and errors in the new system.
