UKF-based Identification of Time-Varying Manual Control Behaviour

This paper describes a novel method for time-varying identification of Human Controller (HC) manual control parameters (called UKF-FPV), based on a steady-state (constant state covariance) Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). This approach requires no a priori assumptions on the shape of HO parameter variations, which is expected to be an advantage...

Control performance with three translational degrees of freedom

For multiple DOF systems, it is important to detemine how accurately operators can control each DOF, and what the influence of the perceptual, information processing and psychomotor components on performance is. Sixteen right-handed male students participated in 2 experiments: one involving positioning and one involving tracking with 3...

Multijoint grasping movements; Simulated and observed effects of object location, object size, and initial aperture

Studies of human prehension have revealed characteristic patterns of grasping kinematics. We sought to gain insight into the determinants of those patterns by means of a computer simulation and accompanying behavioral experiment concerning multijoint, planar grasping behavior. The simulation was based on a recent theory of posture-based motion...

A participatory and integrative approach to increase productivity and comfort in assembly

Manufacturers of manually assembled products are more and more forced to improve the flow of assembly orders together with a more efficient employment, in order to meet increasing demands on short delivery times, high product variety, good quality and low manufacturing costs. At the same time, the human factor is increasingly important, for a...

Human factors issues in UAV platform and sensor control

This paper presents an overview of several studies conducted for the Royal Netherlands Navy on the human-machine interface for steering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and controlling their remote cameras. While manual control is preferable for specific tasks, the operator misses critical sensory information, such as proprioceptive feedback on...

Interference between 6 degrees of freedom in a 3D hand controller

A six degree of freedom (DOF) hand controller is a device that can be used for the simulta-neous control of multiple axes. Multi-axis control may be problematic as a consequence of interference i.e., the control of a certain DOF affects the simultaneous control of another. This was investigated in an experiment in which a compensatory tracking...

The development of a man-machine interface for space manipulator displacement tasks

A space manipulator is a lightweight robotic arm mounted on a space station or a spacecraft. If the manipulator is manually controlled from a remote location (teleoperation), the human operator can only see its movements in the pictures from the cameras mounted on the manipulator and the pictures from the cameras installed in the neighbourhood...

Control display mapping in a 3D positioning task

Subjects have certain expectations about the mapping of motion directions of the control device on those of the controlled object on the accompanying display. When the actual mapping is according to this expectation, the relation is compatible. Compared to less compatible or even incompatible relations, less training is required, reaction times...

RPV research simulator [RPV research simulator]

According to the new mission of the Royal Netherlands Army, supervision and peacekeeping operations in unknown areas and areas of difficult access become increasingly prominent. In this connection, it is supposed that because of the huge number of potential applications and the rapid technological developments in the area of semi-autonomous...

Partial camera automation in a simulated unmanned air vehicle

With the rapid development of automatic control techniques a central question is how the division of labor between the human operator and the automaton should be optimally distributed. In this connection, the present study focussed on an intelligent, semi-autonomous, interface for a camera operator of a simulated Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). This...