MIT AATT Model Project

MIDAS

Man-Machine Integration, Design, and Analysis System

(Last update: 3/25/96 JKK, KK)

1. Primary Model Category

Human factors and performance analysis of complex man-machine systems. Also includes extensive CAD capabilities for equipment design and avionics layout.

2. Summary

MIDAS is a set of modules that allow simulation of humans interacting with crew station equipment, vehicle dynamics, and a dynamically generated environment. Computational models of the operator, the crew station, and the environment of the vehicle are implemented with emphasis on operator performance under mission conditions. Detailed models of human perception, cognitive behavior (including heuristic knowledge bases and decisions), and responses allow analysis of critical areas of human performance such as information management, cognition, and workload. MIDAS also allows for the inclusion of probabilistic events and errors and is able to model interruption and resumption of tasks in single and multiple operator interaction. Several adaptations of MIDAS to the commercial aviation domain have been developed, including Taxi-MIDAS and Air-MIDAS.

3. Input Requirements

Required inputs depend on the modules being used. In Air-MIDAS, inputs include:
  • The mission and activities to be performed, including probability distributions describing when events occur.
  • Operator characteristics, including knowledge bases and decision rules.
Additional modules can be used, incorporating inputs such as anthropometric models, vehicle dynamics, and perception / attention models.

4. Outputs

  • Human factors analysis such as reachability and visibility
  • Visualization of simulated mission scenario (time lines of events and activities)
  • Measurements of mission and operator performance
  • Information requirements analysis

5. Major Assumptions

The human operates according to a set of definable decision rules.

6. Computational Characteristics

  • Platform: Silicon Graphics Onyx with Reality Engine-2 Graphics. MIDAS can also run on lower-end SGI workstations.
  • Operating System: IRIX 5.2
  • Memory:
  • Software Requirements: Allegro Common LISP 4.2 with CLIM 2.0 from Franz. Inc. is required for the LISP components of the code. Other components are written in C and C++.
  • Documentation: Description of the various modules and their inputs and outputs. A users manual is currently under revision.
  • Startup Effort: High User Interface: Adequate. GUI-based, under continuing development

7. Modularity and Flexibility

MIDAS is modular, with the user able to specify which modules are active. A list of components is attached.

8. Status

Under continual development, not mature.

9. Extent of Model Verification

Data generated by MIDAS for a problem investigating descent clearance timing have been compared to full-mission LOFT-type data and found to be consistent.

10. Principal Applications

  • Taxi-MIDAS preflight checklist study
  • Air-MIDAS has been used to examine the effect of the time at which a descent clearance is given (relative to the programmed top-of-descent point) on the choice of descent mode (i.e., autopilot vs. flight management system reprogram). Also examined were the effect of voice communications relative to datalink and pilot ability to successfully initiate the descent before reaching the top-of-descent point.
  • Westinghouse nuclear power plant comparison of paper and electronic procedure aiding
  • Richmond, CA emergency 911 dispatch workstation layout
  • High Speed Civil Transport flight deck analysis
  • Air Warrior air crew protective suit design
  • Short Haul Civil Tilt Rotor cockpit and crew procedure design.
  • Helmet Mounted Display analysis
  • Liquid Crystal Display analysis

11. Availability

MIDAS is available through the NASA Ames Research Center and Sterling Software. Contact: Kevin Corker, (415)-604-0055, kevin_corker@qmgate.arc.nasa.gov

12. Information for Model Evaluation

    "Army-NASA Aircrew/Aircraft Integration Program: Phase VI A3I Man-Machine Integration Design and Analysis System (MIDAS) Detail Design Document."

    Corker, K. and G. Pisanich, "A Multiple Agent Model of Human Performance in Automated Air Traffic Control and Flight Management Operations", Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Human-Machine Interaction and Artificial Intelligence in Aerospace, Toulouse, France, Sept. 27-29, 1995.

    Corker, K. and G. Pisanich, "Analysis and Modeling of Flight Crew Performance in Automated Air Traffic Management Systems", Proceedings of the Sixth IFAC/IFIP/IFORS/IEA Symposium on Analysis, Design, and Evaluation of Man-Machine Systems, Cambridge, MA, June 27-29, 1995.

    The MIDAS homepage is at http://www-midas.arc.nasa.gov.

13. Summary Evaluation

MIDAS is a collection of experimental computational tools for evaluating human factors and performance analysis of complex man machine systems. The model is made up of several modules that can be independently turned on or off according to the problem under consideration. Modules include models of human vision, attention, perception, internal representation of the world, decision rules, and responses. Aircraft dynamics, guidance, environment, and terrain data may also be included.

For a given problem, the user provides a model of the environment, events that are to occur, and probability distributions. Also provided are the decision rules the human uses in acting on the information that is observed. MIDAS then runs through a simulation in 100 msec time increments, simulating the occurrence of events and the actions taken by the human in response. A timeline showing when events and actions occurred is then provided as output. By running many simulations in a Monte Carlo fashion, statistical results can be obtained.

MIDAS has been used to examine the effect of the time at which a descent clearance is given (relative to the programmed top-of-descent point) on the choice of descent mode (i.e., autopilot vs. flight management system reprogram). Also examined were the effect of voice communications relative to datalink and pilot ability to successfully initiate the descent before reaching the top-of-descent point.

Some of the limitations mentioned in the design document are:

  • Difficult to Use
  • Extremely Data Intensive
  • Unintegrated user interfaces
  • Lack of validation/verification of models
  • Extremely slow speed of simulation
  • Many undeveloped components

MIDAS is a very complex model intended to simulate complex situations and human cognitive processes. It has been used in some limited studies using a subset of the available modules. Verification of results will be a significant challenge in the future.

14. MIDAS Modules

    1. Cockpit Design Editor (CDE)
    2. Anthropometric Model (Jack')
    3. Vision Modeling Tools
    4. Agents(including Communication Methods and Biographers
    5. Pseudo Agents
    6. Activity Representation
    7. Simulation Executive
    8. Mission and Standard Operating Procedures (MSOP)
    9. Equipment Model
    10. Flight Dynamics
    11. Guidance
    12. Terrain
    13. Environment and other Objects
    14. Vision
    15. Perception/Attention
    16. Updatable World Representation (UWR)
    17. Daemons
    18. Decision-by-rules
    19. Decision-by-algorithm
    20. Symbolic Operarator Model (SOM)
    21. Scheduler
    22. Task Loading Model (TLM)
    23. Motor
    24. Anthropometric Model for Simulation (Jack Agent)
    25. Visual Editor and Simulation Tool (VEST)
    26. User Interface
    27. Equipment Editor
    28. Activity Editor
    29. Statistics

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