SBIR Phase II - Human System Integration (HSI) Rapid Analysis Tool

Phase I of this SBIR project resulted in the design and prototype of a tool that could be used by Naval and commercial ship designers to rapidly assess HSI issues. The primary objective of any HSI program is to evaluate design cost and performanceeffectiveness by determining, during development, the system design that yields the highest level of human performance while minimizing burdens on the personnel who will operate, maintain, and support the system. This objective would be aided by a toolthat incorporates task characteristics, task timelines, situational awareness, as well as operator knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) into a dynamic human performance simulation framework. The tool we are proposing to develop in Phase II meets theserequirements. The proposed tool will support a flexible analysis approach through which system designers can apply varying levels of fidelity to the analysis of manning and automation alternatives. The tool will include a large database of predecessorsystem maintenance, equipment and job data. The tool will also include a database of scenarios, events, and watchstander and maintainer tasks that the user can utilize and/or modify for a new analysis. The proposed software tool will leverage existingHSI analysis tools and will advance the state of the art in human systems integration technology so that the ability of sailors to operate, maintain and support a system will be used to impact system design. It will be able to help analysts evaluateshipboard reduced manning and automation concepts for safety and affordability impacts prior to building the ship. This will result in an effective force under today's reality of smaller crew sizes. Potential commercial applications include commercialshipping, maritime and offshore systems, manufacturing plants, electrical power plants, chemical and pharmaceutical plants, and other enterprises where manpower reduction and human performance improvement is a priority.