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Abstract

This research explores the use of axiomatic design principles for analyzing coupling in human-machine systems. Coupling is a generic dimension of complexity, and coupling between user goals and user actions widens the gulf of execution. An analytical framework was constructed based on the concept of design domains. This framework formalizes the interaction between user goals, functional requirements, design parameters, and user actions. User goals and user actions describe tasks from a user's perspective. Functional requirements and design parameters describe system's structure from an engineering perspective. Design equations are used to as a notation for representing the interaction between these attributes, and as a tool for characterizing the degree of coupling. By providing a general and rational criterion, the proposed method is conceived as an analytical tool that design engineers can use for early evaluations.

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An Analytical Framework for Assessing the Complexity of Human-Machine Systems

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