Model Of The Human Observer and Controller Of A Dynamic System Theory and model application to ship handling

The MMS model presented in this paper describes rather detailed human control of a dynamic system. The model is an integration and extension of previously developped (validated) (sub)models. The model describes human control of a dynamic system, involving intermittent control behavior during finite time intervals. and, therefore, decision making and planning and continuous regulating. Another central element is that the Qontrol is based on the perceived visual information from instruments and the outside world. Observing this visual scene is a complex process (e.g. involving preview) and intimately related to the control task. A model for visual scanning renders a useful insight in display- and navigational questions. The model is being applied to the control of a ship entering a harbor. The preliminary results of this study show that the model adequately describes this complex control task. It is anticipated that the MMS model is sufficiently general to be useful to investigate a variety of man-machine systems, e.g. in the important area of robotics and in the handling of ships, helicopters, etc.