A framework for understanding automation in terms of levels of human control abstraction

Levels of Autonomy (LoA) provide a method for describing authority granted to operators and autonomous system elements. Unfortunately, LoA does not provide the user interface designer a clear method to distinguish interface concepts which impose varying levels of operator workload or result in human or system performance changes. The current research suggests an alternate classification framework for vehicle control, referred to as the Level of Human Control Abstraction (LHCA). LHCA describes how an operator controls a system based on the control tasks performed and the level of detail of decisions made by the operator. The proposed framework consists of five levels: Direct Control, Augmented Control, Parametric Control, Goal-Oriented Control, and Mission-Capable Control. It is suggested that as the level of detail of control is reduced through progression from Direct Control to Mission-Capable Control, the level of human attention, and workload will be reduced.