Analysis Techniques For Man-Machine Systems Design

NATO UNCLASSIFTED53 - AC1243(Panel-8)TR/7Volume Idocumentation of a satisfactory design in the form of a prototype, rather than a systemspecification, presents additional challenges.4.4.3 Integration of system development activities103. As the work of NATO AC/243 Panel 8/RSG.9 has shown (McMillan et al., 1989),the use of CAD systems for human factors/ergonomics studies of operator work-space design isincreasing steadily. Typically, such systems represent the size range of potential operators andtheir movement abilities, and permit comparisons of those operators with three-dimensionalrepresentations of the work-space (McDaniel & Hoffman, 1990). Advanced versions of suchCAD systems permit the representation of a sequence of operator actions.104. While they do not integrate human factors into the weapon systems acquisitionprocess (WSAP), a variety of human engineering CAD tools exist which integrate humanengineering standards or data into the system design. These tools generally assist humanengineering practitioners in:* analyzing requirements for designs* generating designs* evaluating designs in terms of reach. clearances and other types of anthropometricassessmentsSome examples of state-of-the-an CAD tools are (Booher & Hewitt, 1990):* CADET (Computer Aided Design and Evaluation Techniques)* EDG (Engineering Design Graphics system)* SAMMIE (System for Aiding Man-Machine Interaction Evaluation* MIDAS (Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System)105. Related developments in CAD systems may influence the approach taken to theapplication of human factors engineering on large systems. Computer-aided Acquisition andLogistic Support (CALS) is a US DoD and industrial initiative to facilitate and speed up the useand integration of digital product information from CAD systems in military procurements.including construction. production, evaluation and maintenance. The long-term goal withinCALS is to establish an integrated database covering all aspects of a military system that arecommon to procurement agency and supplier. CALS technology is currently being evaluated inseveral projects. e.g., USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter and the Centurion submarine.Currently, there is a project to include human factors data in CALS. That project may lead tostandard human factors data elements and formats. This development is being monitored byNATO AC/243 Panel-8/RSG 21. The US Armyos MANPRINT programme parallels CALS inmany ways, but the focus is on the engineering more than logistics. Although integratedsoftware tools for human engineering have been developed. the only available set of humanengineering tools which are explicitly tailored to MANPRINT is the US Army's MANPRINTIDEA (integrated Decision/Engineering Aid) which is also being used on an exploratory basis inFrance, The Netherlands. and the U.K.106. The developments outlined above suggest the possibility for a much moreintegrated approach between the human-, system-,'and software-engineering aspects of projectdevelopment. Additional important activities include the development of specifications. Thequality of the work done in developing systems specifications is crucial to later success. andgreatly affects the system's operational usefulness and life-cycle costs. Increasingly, theimportance of systems specifications is being recognized among system developers and users.Given the operational requirements. a general description of the development of specificationsmight be as follows:NATO UNCLASSIFTED-53 -