Cockpit System Situational Awarness Modeling Tool

The Cockpit System Situational Awareness Modeling Tool will use the principles of discrete event simulation to predict pilot situational awareness (SA). The human performance modeling environment of IMPRINT combined with the cognitive modeling tool ACT-R will provide a powerful tool for the designers of cockpit systems. IMPRINT can already be used to predict pilot workload and assess the effects of performance shaping factors on pilot tasks. The use of ACT-R to add the SA prediction capability will dramatically increase the usefulness of the tool. The capability of predicting pilot SA will allow design concepts to be assessed early in the design process and supplement data collected through comparatively more expensive pilot in-the-loop experiments. NASA is continuing to play an important role in the development of new operational concepts for the National Airspace System (NAS) as they explore the feasibility of transferring separation responsibility from the ground-based air traffic control system to the flight deck. The impact on the pilot?s SA of new tools designed to support these efforts must be understood to ensure that safety and efficiency of the NAS is maintained. Likewise any commercial developer of cockpit systems will benefit from the use of this tool.