Human-Machine System Simulation for Supporting the Design and Evaluation of Reliable Aircraft Cockpit Interface

For achieving higher level safety in aviation, it is strongly required to reduce accidents involving human factors. Actualizing appropriate human-machine interface (HMI) design is a key issue for preventing significant hazards resulted from human errors. In the present study, as an evaluation method for HMI, a human-machine system simulation called Pilot Cognitive Simulator (PCS) has been developed. The main purpose of the PCS is achieving qualitative evaluation of HMI design from the aspect of information contents thorough analysis of interaction between pilots' cognitive process and HMI in simulation environment. In an experimental simulation-based evaluation of a prototype information display, PCS could successfully reveal the effectiveness and the possible adverse effect of the supporting display. These results are considered to demonstrate the basic effectiveness of PCS as a supporting tool for achieving more reliable HMI design