A Neuroergonomic Approach for the Investigation of Cognitive Processes in Interactive Assembly Environments

The present article describes a scenario and respective neuro-cognitive psychological methods for the investigation of human-machine interaction in a factory context. Due to a growing demand for flexible production systems, adaptive interfaces for the optimal support of workers in manufacturing become increasingly relevant. Interacting in a complex production environment requires the acting person to filter multiple sources of information, to attentively select relevant information, to integrate perceptual information with action goals, to monitor these in working memory and to control the appropriate response actions. Cognitive control mechanisms in this multi-task situation will be analyzed in a research project on the basis of a neuroergonomic approach. The underlying attentional selection mechanisms and mental workload limitations are investigated in an assembly line scenario, where human performance and physiological parameters are assessed while the operator is performing an assembly task. In this scenario, instructions are presented via Augmented Reality systems, allowing for the presentation of task-relevant information at any time during the action sequence. Additionally, the production environment is simulated by a video projection of a typical factory surrounding. By experimentally varying task complexity and action goals, constraints on user interface design and human-machine interaction will be derived.