Level of Automation: Integrating Humans and Automated Systems

Abstract

Automation is being implemented in a variety of systems in an effort to improve performance and overcome high operator workload. Current automation approaches may underlie these problems by reducing operator situation awareness. Evidence suggests that in many ways current automation approaches fail to achieve the desired reduction in workload, yet the prevailing approach to system design is still to automate to reduce workload. An alternate design approach is presented that focuses on utilizing intermediate levels of automation (LOA) that integrate the human and the automated system in substantially different ways. Three studies are examined that explore the effects of LOA on performance, situation awareness and workload under normal and failure conditions. Intermediate LOAs were found to significantly enhance SA and performance as compared to full automation or purely manual performance. Factors that determine when automation may be advantageous and when it may be detrimental are revealed through this systsematic exploration of design options for combining humans and automated systems.