Development of an expert systems computer program for control panel design enhancement

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5667272

Franklin, A L; Pelto, P J; Fecht, B A

The control panel is the principal human/machine interface and is a key system in assuring the safe and reliable operation of a gas industry facility. The majority of gas industry facilities use hardwired control and display systems. Many newer facilities (and some existing facilities) are installing computer-aided control and display systems. In work conducted for the Gas Research Institute, Battelle Northwest has developed human factors guidelines for hardwired (DeSteese et al. 1982) and computer-aided (Fecht et al. 1985) control and display systems. The guidelines themselves represent only a fraction of the total information gained during this research activity. Recent developments in the area of artificial intelligence provide a novel means for transferring and sharing expertise gained in developing these guidelines. A proof of principle expert system has been developed to demonstrate the practicality of using an expert system to record and communicate information traditionally presented in manuals and reports. The nature of expert systems not only provides a convenient means for communicating abstract concepts such as expertise and insight, but it also provides an interactive medium where user access becomes more conversation like. In essence, the manual becomes a mimic of the expert that compiled the information found in the manual. In addition, with an animated or smart manual, the manual itself can become involved in the panel design process by suggesting areas where additional design consideration may be justified. 2 refs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5667272
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-14013; CONF-860658-1; ON: DE86012153
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DISPLAY DEVICES
ENGINEERING
EXPERT SYSTEMS
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
INDUSTRY
INTERACTIONS
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAFETY
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER