Role of a Common Frame of Reference in Cognitive Cooperation: Sharing Tasks between Agents in Air Traffic Control

Abstract:

This study deals with cognitive cooperation in the context of the design of cooperative computer support for sharing aircraft conflict detection and resolution tasks between human and machine in air traffic control. In order to specify some necessary cooperative capabilities of such a system, we have observed an artificial situation on a simulator where two radar controllers (RCs) had to cooperate for the management of a heavy traffic within a single sector. This paper reports the analysis of the verbal communications between the two RCs recorded during the simulation. The results enabled us to describe the elements of a common frame of reference (COFOR), elaborated and updated by the two RCs, as a crucial cooperative activity in this kind of situation. They also show the role of this COFOR in the implicit detection and resolution of interference between the RCs’ individual activities. Their contribution to design, associated with other investigations and the state of the art, is discussed.