Rules for fighter cockpit automation

The issues and special problems associated with the automation of functions in the fighter aircraft cockpit are discussed. The fighter cockpit has particular design requirements resulting from the critical need to function in combat. Digital avionics permit additional capability, but at a cost of additional workload for the pilot and perhaps even lower reliability and operability. Automation is increasingly seen as the solution to this problem. Automation is defined on a continuum with ten generic levels of delegated functionality. The higher levels are more appropriate for highly reliable, low-critically functions. Sixteen rules for automation of fighter cockpits are presented and discussed. These rules considered preliminary, are presented as a framework for a systematic approach to the automation design problem