Carl Westin

ii Summary Space Odyssey who, unfortunately also suffers from paranoia. Operators may struggle with understanding the system, not only because its reasoning is hidden, but also because its reasoning is different. Consequently, oper- ators may end up distrusting and rejecting the system and its advice. This problem- solving mismatch can partly explain the acceptance issue observed in ATC. To ad- dress the acceptance issue and guide mid- and far-term ATC automation design, the visionary MUFASA (Multidimensional Framework for Advanced SESAR Automa- tion) project set out to develop a framework for future levels of automation (LOA). The project hypothesized that conflict detection and resolution (CD&R) decision support conformal to a controller’s preferred conflict-solving style would benefit the acceptance of that support and facilitate improved human-automation collaboration. Strategic conformance was introduced as a compatibility concept specifically cap- turing the degree to which a decision aid’s apparent problem-solving style matches the operator’s. This thesis evolved from, and set out to expand, the successful MUFASA project to consider and empirically explore an individually-centered approach towards au- tomation design. In general, this thesis focuses on decision aids that provide ex- plicit personalized solutions for control tasks in highly dynamic time- and safety- critical domains. The ambitious goal was to obtain a fundamental understanding of how controllers’ acceptance of ATC conflict resolution advisories were affected, depending on how well the decision aid’s conflict-solving strategy matches that of the individual controller. To study strategic conformance empirically, a novel approach based on repeat- ing controllers’ own solutions was developed. As such, automated advisories were based on recordings of controllers’ own solutions to the same conflict. No conflict solution algorithm was used. To determine a controller’s unique conflict-solving style, the controller unknowingly encountered the same scenario and conflict four times in a prequel simulation . Solutions were then analyzed and scripted as conflict resolution advisories. In the subsequent experiment simulation , strategic confor- mance was varied by providing the same controller with either her/his own solution to the same conflict (conformal), or a colleague’s contrasting solution to the same conflict (nonconformal). This thesis sought to investigate strategic conformance effects in the context of decision selection and implementation. For this purpose, controllers were supported by the Solution Space Diagram (SSD) prototype, which provides the high-level in- formation acquisition and integration required for facilitating higher levels of deci- sion support automation. While the SSD did not advice specific conflict solutions, it facilitated the implementation of advisories for the purpose of manipulating strate- gic conformance. The SSD is an ecological information support tool that integrates