Human Factors and HMI for Future Air Domain

Abstract

Future Air Domain will be defined by emerging technologies, such as the integration of autonomous systems and the application of artificial intelligence to support complex decision-making. A central concept in the Future Air Domain is the “system of systems” approach, in which multiple manned and unmanned platforms operate collaboratively. In this context, effective human-machine collaboration is critical, highlighting the need for investigating the design of human-machine interfaces (HMI) that facilitate interaction. This paper explores some of the challenges related to HMI design for Future Air Domain. It discusses the research currently under development within a joint Swedish–Brazilian collaboration that investigates how cognitive modelling and pilot state monitoring can contribute to HMI development, how adaptive interfaces can support varying levels of autonomy, and how human factors are influenced by the demands of communicating with and controlling multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To support this research, six different HMI concepts are currently being developed and will be tested in different simulation environments.