| The systems engineering technical processes of requirements analysis, functional allocation and design synthesis are not sufficiently supported by methods and tools that quantitatively integrate human considerations into early system design. Because of this, engineers must often rely on qualitative judgments or delay critical decisions until late in the system lifecycle. Studies reveal that this is likely to result in cost, schedule, and performance consequences.;This dissertation presents a methodology to improve the application of systems engineering technical processes for design. This methodology is mathematically rigorous, is grounded in relevant theory, and applies extant human subjects data to critical systems development challenges. The methodology is expressed in four methods that support early systems engineering activities. First, a requirements elicitation method guides the transformation of aircraft mishap data, encoded with the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), to prioritized human systems integration (HSI) domain risk areas for a target system. The second method defines empirical functional allocation between humans and automation. The method is used to analyze the collision avoidance capability for a remotely piloted vehicle (RPV). The application shows the limitations of both humans and automation for collision avoidance. The third method is a design approach for input devices, employing a multi-objective nonlinear optimization algorithm to find the input device controller gains based on the performance of a total system model (including the human operator). It makes use of a simulation-based approach accommodating empirical data for human capabilities and limitations. The final method guides the layout of information in multi-function displays (MFD). This research proposes a human-computer interaction (HCI) index that allows for a quantitative evaluation of layout effectiveness. This was combined with Markov chains and hybrid seeded genetic algorithms to not only evaluate, but find a mathematically best display layout. Algorithm results were confirmed with human subjects test data for F-15 and A-7 avionics. These methods form a coherent approach to early system development.;Each method is separately discussed and demonstrated using a prototypical system development program---an advanced multi-role RPV. In total, this original and significant work has a broad range of applicability to improve the engineering of human systems integration. |
