Michael Miller | Air Force Institute of Technology (original) (raw)
Papers by Michael Miller
In stereoscopic display systems, there is always a balance between creating a "wow factor," using... more In stereoscopic display systems, there is always a balance between creating a "wow factor," using large horizontal disparities, and providing a comfortable viewing environment for the user. In this paper, we explore the range of horizontal disparities, which can be fused by a human observer, as a function of the viewing distance and the field of view of the display. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of human observers in a stereoscopic viewing environment. The viewing distance was varied in the first study using a CRT with shutter glasses. The second study employed a large field-of-view display with infinity focus, and the simulated field of view was varied. The recorded responses included fusion/no fusion, fusion time, and degree of convergence. The results show that viewing distance has a small impact on the angular fusional range. In contrast, the field of view has a much stronger impact on the angular fusional range. A link between the degree of convergence and the fusional range is demonstrated. This link suggests that the capability of the human observer to perform eye vergence movements to achieve stereoscopic fusion may be the limiting factor in fusing large horizontal disparities presented in stereoscopic displays.
Background: Spatial disorientation is a significant factor in a large percentage of military Clas... more Background: Spatial disorientation is a significant factor in a large percentage of military Class A aviation mishaps. While previous studies have analyzed accident statistics, they often suffer from methodological flaws, which lead to questionable conclusions. Methods: The current study relied upon the Air Force Safety Automated System to document U.S. Air Force Class A mishap investigations during the past 21 yr. Human
Factors Analysis and Classification System codes were used to determine mishaps involving pilot spatial disorientation. The data were combined with data from the Reliability and Maintainability Information System to determine the accident rate per flight hour. Results: There were 72 spatial disorientation (SD) mishaps analyzed, resulting in loss of
101 lives and 65 aircraft since fiscal year (FY) 1993 for a total monetary cost of $2.32 billion. Class A mishaps involving spatial disorientation had a higher rate as a function of hours flown for helicopter and fighter/attack fixed wing aircraft than other aircraft. Additionally, mishap rates for F-16 fighter/attack aircraft were marginally larger than for other fighter/attack aircraft. Although SD mishaps at night had similar mishap
rates to daytime SD mishaps when adjusted by flight hours, SD mishaps account for a larger percent of Class A mishaps during the night than during the day. Discussion: SD mishaps were analyzed in terms of Class A mishaps per million flight hours. Results indicate that future SD research should be focused on fighter/attack and helicopter platforms. Updates to the Air Force safety center database are recommended.
Adaptive automation systems allow the user to complete a task seamlessly with a computer performi... more Adaptive automation systems allow the user to complete a task seamlessly with a computer performing tasks at which the human operator struggles. Unlike traditional systems that allocate functions to either the human or the machine, adaptive automation varies the allocation of functions during system operation. Creating these systems requires designers to consider issues not present during static system development. To assist in adaptive automation system design, this paper presents the concept of inherent tasks and takes
advantage of this concept to create the function-to-task design process model. This process model helps the designer determine how to allocate functions to the human, machine, or dynamically between the two. An
illustration of the process demonstrates the potential complexity within adaptive automation systems and
how the process model aids in understanding this complexity during early stage design.
Solar radiation events present a significant threat to future manned missions to Mars. However, l... more Solar radiation events present a significant threat to future manned missions to Mars. However, little architectural
analysis has been documented on how to best protect these interplanetary manned missions. With renewed interest in manned missions to Mars, there is a clear need to develop and analyze radiation protection architectures. The Mars scenario was selected due to its relatively high likelihood, the robust body of background data available, and the adaptability of the analytic methods, concepts, and trade spaces to other planetary missions. An executable model was developed to assess the cost and effectiveness of 14 candidate solar warning architectures. Candidates were evaluated and compared based upon two performance metrics: warning time and solar coverage. The cost of each architecture was assessed by
estimating the total dry mass of all required components. Relation of the performance metric of each architecture to its estimated cost enabled construction of a Pareto frontier of design options using multiattribute utility theory to combine performance metrics into an overall “best value” solution. This analysis resulted in a manned Mars spacecraft with onboard sensing/processing.
Journal of Management in Engineering, Jan 2014
Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, Dec 2013
Lighting Research and Technology, May 2013
Energy-conscious facility designs strive to include natural daylight in workspaces. However, the ... more Energy-conscious facility designs strive to include natural daylight in workspaces. However, the correlated colour temperature (CCT) and spectral content of daylight varies throughout the day while existent electric lamps produce light with a fixed CCT, resulting in mixed-illumination environments. A prototype LED lamp, with a simple control concept and a novel pulse-width modulation drive circuit, is proposed. This white light over a broad range of CCT values while maintaining a stable colour quality fidelity score with respect to a standard daylight source having an equivalent CCT. This range of CCTs is obtained without requiring computations for spectral approximation, resulting in a simplified control system.
Journal of Systems Engineering, Apr 2012
Predictive mental workload modeling is one established tool within the broad systems engineering ... more Predictive mental workload modeling is one established tool within the broad systems engineering activity of Human Systems Integration (HSI). Using system architecture as the foundation, this paper explores the use of Multiple Resource Theory to create representative workload models for evaluating operational system-of-systems (SoS) concepts. Through careful consideration of task demands, conflict generated between tasks, and workload mitigation strategies, informed design decision can improve overall human system performance. An example involving a single pilot controlling multiple remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) is presented to illustrate the use of workload modeling. Several observations are ade that drive measurably excessive workload: multitasking, ommunications, continuously updating situational awareness and mission planning. In addition, three metrics are proposed for ncorporating human workload analysis during system design. This technique has applicability across a wide range systems-of- systems and operational concepts involving complex human- system interactions.
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Mar 2009
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Jan 2006
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Jun 2005
Visual Cognition, Jun 2005
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Jan 2003
Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, May 2002
Transportation Research Record, 1989
Transportation Research Record, 1988
In stereoscopic display systems, there is always a balance between creating a "wow factor," using... more In stereoscopic display systems, there is always a balance between creating a "wow factor," using large horizontal disparities, and providing a comfortable viewing environment for the user. In this paper, we explore the range of horizontal disparities, which can be fused by a human observer, as a function of the viewing distance and the field of view of the display. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of human observers in a stereoscopic viewing environment. The viewing distance was varied in the first study using a CRT with shutter glasses. The second study employed a large field-of-view display with infinity focus, and the simulated field of view was varied. The recorded responses included fusion/no fusion, fusion time, and degree of convergence. The results show that viewing distance has a small impact on the angular fusional range. In contrast, the field of view has a much stronger impact on the angular fusional range. A link between the degree of convergence and the fusional range is demonstrated. This link suggests that the capability of the human observer to perform eye vergence movements to achieve stereoscopic fusion may be the limiting factor in fusing large horizontal disparities presented in stereoscopic displays.
Background: Spatial disorientation is a significant factor in a large percentage of military Clas... more Background: Spatial disorientation is a significant factor in a large percentage of military Class A aviation mishaps. While previous studies have analyzed accident statistics, they often suffer from methodological flaws, which lead to questionable conclusions. Methods: The current study relied upon the Air Force Safety Automated System to document U.S. Air Force Class A mishap investigations during the past 21 yr. Human
Factors Analysis and Classification System codes were used to determine mishaps involving pilot spatial disorientation. The data were combined with data from the Reliability and Maintainability Information System to determine the accident rate per flight hour. Results: There were 72 spatial disorientation (SD) mishaps analyzed, resulting in loss of
101 lives and 65 aircraft since fiscal year (FY) 1993 for a total monetary cost of $2.32 billion. Class A mishaps involving spatial disorientation had a higher rate as a function of hours flown for helicopter and fighter/attack fixed wing aircraft than other aircraft. Additionally, mishap rates for F-16 fighter/attack aircraft were marginally larger than for other fighter/attack aircraft. Although SD mishaps at night had similar mishap
rates to daytime SD mishaps when adjusted by flight hours, SD mishaps account for a larger percent of Class A mishaps during the night than during the day. Discussion: SD mishaps were analyzed in terms of Class A mishaps per million flight hours. Results indicate that future SD research should be focused on fighter/attack and helicopter platforms. Updates to the Air Force safety center database are recommended.
Adaptive automation systems allow the user to complete a task seamlessly with a computer performi... more Adaptive automation systems allow the user to complete a task seamlessly with a computer performing tasks at which the human operator struggles. Unlike traditional systems that allocate functions to either the human or the machine, adaptive automation varies the allocation of functions during system operation. Creating these systems requires designers to consider issues not present during static system development. To assist in adaptive automation system design, this paper presents the concept of inherent tasks and takes
advantage of this concept to create the function-to-task design process model. This process model helps the designer determine how to allocate functions to the human, machine, or dynamically between the two. An
illustration of the process demonstrates the potential complexity within adaptive automation systems and
how the process model aids in understanding this complexity during early stage design.
Solar radiation events present a significant threat to future manned missions to Mars. However, l... more Solar radiation events present a significant threat to future manned missions to Mars. However, little architectural
analysis has been documented on how to best protect these interplanetary manned missions. With renewed interest in manned missions to Mars, there is a clear need to develop and analyze radiation protection architectures. The Mars scenario was selected due to its relatively high likelihood, the robust body of background data available, and the adaptability of the analytic methods, concepts, and trade spaces to other planetary missions. An executable model was developed to assess the cost and effectiveness of 14 candidate solar warning architectures. Candidates were evaluated and compared based upon two performance metrics: warning time and solar coverage. The cost of each architecture was assessed by
estimating the total dry mass of all required components. Relation of the performance metric of each architecture to its estimated cost enabled construction of a Pareto frontier of design options using multiattribute utility theory to combine performance metrics into an overall “best value” solution. This analysis resulted in a manned Mars spacecraft with onboard sensing/processing.
Journal of Management in Engineering, Jan 2014
Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, Dec 2013
Lighting Research and Technology, May 2013
Energy-conscious facility designs strive to include natural daylight in workspaces. However, the ... more Energy-conscious facility designs strive to include natural daylight in workspaces. However, the correlated colour temperature (CCT) and spectral content of daylight varies throughout the day while existent electric lamps produce light with a fixed CCT, resulting in mixed-illumination environments. A prototype LED lamp, with a simple control concept and a novel pulse-width modulation drive circuit, is proposed. This white light over a broad range of CCT values while maintaining a stable colour quality fidelity score with respect to a standard daylight source having an equivalent CCT. This range of CCTs is obtained without requiring computations for spectral approximation, resulting in a simplified control system.
Journal of Systems Engineering, Apr 2012
Predictive mental workload modeling is one established tool within the broad systems engineering ... more Predictive mental workload modeling is one established tool within the broad systems engineering activity of Human Systems Integration (HSI). Using system architecture as the foundation, this paper explores the use of Multiple Resource Theory to create representative workload models for evaluating operational system-of-systems (SoS) concepts. Through careful consideration of task demands, conflict generated between tasks, and workload mitigation strategies, informed design decision can improve overall human system performance. An example involving a single pilot controlling multiple remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) is presented to illustrate the use of workload modeling. Several observations are ade that drive measurably excessive workload: multitasking, ommunications, continuously updating situational awareness and mission planning. In addition, three metrics are proposed for ncorporating human workload analysis during system design. This technique has applicability across a wide range systems-of- systems and operational concepts involving complex human- system interactions.
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Mar 2009
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Jan 2006
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Jun 2005
Visual Cognition, Jun 2005
Journal of the Society for Information Display, Jan 2003
Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, May 2002
Transportation Research Record, 1989
Transportation Research Record, 1988