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Computational Model and Measurement Tool for Evaluating the Design of Flight Deck Technologies

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX08CA54P
Agency Tracking Number: 074214
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A1.12
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2007
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-01-18
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-07-21
Small Business Information
12 Gill Street, Suite 1400
Woburn, MA 01801-1753
United States
DUNS: 967259946
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jamie Estock
 Principal Investigator
 (202) 842-1548
 jestock@aptima.com
Business Contact
 Richard Salvage
Title: Business Official
Phone: (781) 496-2487
Email: rsalvage@aptima.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The runway safety issue has been on the Most Wanted list of the National Transportation Safety Board since the list's inception in 1990. The FAA has responded by implementing two ground surveillance technologies at major U.S. airports to reduce the risk of runway incursions. However, both technologies route information through air traffic control (rather than directly to pilots), which significantly delays safe responses. Several flight deck technologies that communicate information directly to pilots are currently in development. However, there is a need for tools to rapidly test the technologies early in the design process and measure their impact on pilot performance prior to implementation. The Aptima/George Mason University team proposes to develop two technologies that can be used together or independently to evaluate performance of flight deck technologies aimed at improving runway safety. We will deliver a computational cognitive model (Adaptive Control of Thought-Runway Safety; ACT-RS) that realistically emulates pilot performance, thus reducing the need for human pilots early in the design process. In addition, we will deliver a measurement tool (Performance Measurement Engine) that can measure the impact of the flight deck technology on the performance of ACT-RS and human pilots, making it useful across the technology lifecycle.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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