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A Framework for Supporting Adaptive Human-AI Teaming in Air Traffic Control

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Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics (HCII 2023)

Abstract

In recent years, the growth of cognitively complex systems has motivated researchers to study how to improve these systems’ support of human work. At the same time, there is a momentum for introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in safety critical domains. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) system is a prime example of a cognitively complex safety critical system where AI applications are expected to support air traffic controllers in performing their tasks. Nevertheless, the design of AI systems that support effectively humans poses significant challenges. Central to these challenges is the choice of the model of how air traffic controllers perform their tasks. AI algorithms are notoriously sensitive to the choice of the models of how the human operators perform their tasks. The design of AI systems should be informed by knowledge of how people think and act in the context of their work environment. In this line of reasoning, the present study has set out to propose a framework of cognitive functions of air traffic controllers that can be used to support effectively adaptive Human - AI teaming. Our aim was to emphasize the “staying in control” element of the ATC. The proposed framework is expected to have meaningful implications in the design and effective operationalization of Human - AI teaming projects at the ATC Operations rooms.

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Malakis, S. et al. (2023). A Framework for Supporting Adaptive Human-AI Teaming in Air Traffic Control. In: Harris, D., Li, WC. (eds) Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 14018. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35389-5_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35389-5_22

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