Development of a framework of human-centered automation for the nuclear industry
Introduction of automated systems into control rooms for advanced reactor designs is often justified on the basis of increased efficiency and reliability, without a detailed assessment of how the new technologies will influence the role of the operator. Such a technology-centered'' approach carries with it the risk that entirely new mechanisms for human error will be introduced, resulting in some unpleasant surprises when the plant goes into operation. The aviation industry has experienced some of these surprises since the introduction of automated systems into the cockpits of advanced technology aircraft. Pilot errors have actually been induced by automated systems, especially when the pilot doesn't fully understand what the automated systems are doing during all modes of operation. In order to structure the research program for investigating these problems, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed a framework for human-centered automation. This framework is described in the NASA document Human-Centered Aircraft Automation Philosophy by Charles Billings. It is the thesis of this paper that a corresponding framework of human-centered automation should be developed for the nuclear industry. Such a framework would serve to guide the design and regulation of automated systems for advanced reactor designs, and would help prevent some of the problems that have arisen in other applications that have followed a technology-centered'' approach.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 6551897
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-M-92470; CONF-930401-14; ON: DE93010789
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Meeting on nuclear plant instrumentation, control and man-machine interface technologies, Oak Ridge, TN (United States), 18-21 Apr 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CONTROL ROOMS
AUTOMATION
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
MAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS
HUMAN FACTORS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
REACTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS
ERRORS
NASA
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
REACTOR OPERATORS
RECOMMENDATIONS
ANIMALS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
INDUSTRY
MAMMALS
MAN
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERSONNEL
POWER PLANTS
PRIMATES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
220400* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Control Systems