A Computer-Based System for Workstation Design and Analysis

The Crew Systems Development Branch of the US Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories is pursuing a system of computer-aided design and evaluation techniques (CADETs) for aircraft crew station development. Composed of individual computer-based human factors design tools and analysis methods, the system's key element is a user-interface module (UIM). The UIM serves as the single user-computer interface, through which all CADETs are accessed, eliminating many of the potential disadvantages normally associated with such an approach (e.g. diverse user backgrounds and varying user familiarity with computers). The CADETs are being implemented in a modular architecture to permit easy upgrade, replacement, or addition of any design tool or analysis technique. These features, and others discussed herein, are being combined to produce a system with numerous desirable attributes including user friendliness and software portability. A powerful, effective CADET system will result, employing computer graphic, analytic, and data base technologies for the design of workstation layouts, and the analysis of workstation geometry, man-machine function allocation, and operator workload.