The Automation Design Advisor Tool (ADAT): Supporting Flight Deck Design in NextGen

Abstract

This paper describes the development and implementation of the Automation Design Advisor Tool (ADAT). ADAT is being developed with NASA support to assist aviation designers throughout all phases of design in creating systems that ensure effective and efficient human-automation interaction on the modern flight deck. The tool can be applied to both new “blank slate” designs, and to improved versions of existing technologies. In particular, the current version of the tool evaluates proposed Flight Management System (FMS) designs in terms of their ability to support pilots in instructing and monitoring the automated system. ADAT identifies potential design deficiencies, provides specific (re)design recommendations, and offers access to summaries of empirical research on the underlying reasons for and the effectiveness of solutions to breakdowns in pilot-automation coordination.