Carl Westin

B-4 Towards higher degrees of automation 197 action implementation. 43 A high level of integration automation (Stage 2) is qual- itatively different from a high level of action automation (Stage 4). The levels and stages of automation are, however, intertwined in that a higher automation level at one stage may depend on a sufficiently high automation level at the preceding stage. For example, a conflict resolution system providing recommendations for solving a conflict (Stage 3) require a high level of both information acquisition (Stage 1) and information integration (Stage 2). Figure B-4 provides and overview of the SSD’s capabilities in a matrix of levels and stages of automation. While the levels of automation (LOA) axis refer to the degree to which a task is automated, the stages of automation axis considers these levels in association to human information processing functions. The accuracy of the SSD, and hence its value, depend on a high level of infor- mation acquisition (Stage 1). Moreover, the SSD itself integrates critical data about aircraft, including their position, velocity vector information, and performance con- straints (Stage 2). In turn, the integrated information can be used by an automated decision aid to provide resolution advisories (Stage 3), and even implement them as needed (Stage 4). The SSD also presents information in a diagram where tri- angular conflict zones provide the emergent perceptual features supporting human decision-making and conflict-solving. The SSD can be considered representative of a high level Stage 2 automation, provided CD&R is the primary task for which it is used. The spatial and geomet- ric representation of the CD&R problem provides a foundation against which the SSD can be incorporated with a decision aid offering explicit support, reflecting a high level of Stage 3 and Stage 4 automation capabilities. Resolution advisories can easily be depicted inside the SSD visualizations. For example, by providing recommendations on suitable (conflict-free) areas in which a solution can be found, offering several solution alternative, or suggesting a specific “best” solution (Stage 3). The decision aid’s authority to execute an advisory can be varied, although this final stage of action implementation does not require the SSD visualization. With management by consent , the automation selects a solution to the conflict and performs it only if the controller approves. At the next level, management by exception , the automation selects a solution and performs that solution, unless the controller specifically intervenes to cancel or veto it. At the highest level for Stage 4, in Figure B-4, the decision aid has full authority to both choose and perform a given solution, although it still informs the controller of its activities (as such, not the most extreme LOA).