Life Sciences in the Space Pmgram 



Human/Machine Integration 



One of the major issues in designing human/machine systems is determining 

 the requirements for space systems in which the crew can work effectively. 



Many compromises in manned spacecraft designs have lowered human 

 productivity. A first step, then, is to determine designs for effective performance. 

 Environments for living and working in space must then be developed that will 

 help sustain crew performance throughout long-duration space missions. 



One important area is the relationship between human and automated tasks 

 during extended missions. At present, well-established principles do not exist to 

 guide the distribution of tasks between human and automated systems for 

 maximum efficiency and reliability. What is the effect on crew productivity and 

 morale of an increasing dependency on machines to perform tasks and make 

 decisions? Will this become more of a problem in a long-duration space flight? 

 Can unforeseen combinations of inputs to an automated system lead to seriously 

 inappropriate outputs? How can such eventualities be safely aborted by human 

 interventions? Uninformed assignment of tasks to the crew and automated systems 

 may compound problems caused by human fallibility and automated inflexibility. 



An understanding of the human/machine interface and its effects on productivity 

 also involves recognition of group and individual performance factors. The effects 

 of human error may be exaggerated by increasingly complex, automated systems. 

 A trend toward more complex and autonomous missions with fewer human 

 operators may make the remaining human tasks all the more taxing. To enhance 

 crew safety, the potential for human >rror and automated inflexibility has to be 

 fully understood and controlled. 



The extensive ground-based research on design of work stations and the selecting 

 and training of users must continue to be incorporated into the development of 

 the Space Station and spacecraft for long-duration missions. Specific developments 

 recognizing special requirements associated with microgravity need to be the 

 subject of intensified efforts. Astronauts and former astronauts with experience in 

 space should be involved in guiding the research. 



Development of human performance models, through anthropometric and 

 biomechanic design considerations, can provide information about body 

 dimensions and mobility important in reducing or preventing human error. In 

 addition, effective user selection and training can help reduce errors by matching 

 the i haracteristics of the user as closely as possible to system design charac- 

 teristics. A major problem regarding education in complex autonomous systems is 

 that the human cannot be trained in detail tor everything. Therefore, the 

 orientation must be less specific and involve some system accounting and 

 tolerance of error. 



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