Introduction to Workshop Themes & Physical Ergonomics & Integration Challenges

1. Soldier Systems Technology RoadmapHuman and Systems Integration Workshop Introduction to Workshop Themes & Physical Ergonomics & Integration Challenges Linda Bossi, CD, MSc Human Systems Integration Section DRDC Toronto September 21-22, 2010 Château Cartier Gatineau, Que.

2. OUTLINE • What is Human Systems Integration? • A Model for Considering the Soldier as a System • Introduction to Workshop Themes • Physical Ergonomics & Integration Challenges

3. What is HSI? • Technical process of integrating 5 HSI domains with a materiel system to ensure safe, effective operability and supportability of the system

4. Human Factors: Multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, engineering, human biology, industrial design, statistics, operations research and anthropometry. A term that covers: The science of understanding the properties of human capability (Human Factors Science) The application of that understanding to the design, development and deployment of systems, processes and work environments (Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics) The ‘science/art’ of ensuring successful application of HFE to a program (Human Factors Integration, Human Systems Integration)

5. A Simple Model for Considering the Complex Soldier System USER TOOLS TASK ENVIRONMENT

6. Key Challenge – User Complexity and Variability Age Gender Military Occupation Role (rifleman, leader) Physical Attributes: Size & Shape Strength Fitness Level Handedness Education Training Experience Skills USER Psychological/Cognitive Capabilities: Intellect, Cognitive Style, Information Processing, Decision-making capability, Resilience, etc. Perceptual Capabilities: Visual Acuity Colour Vision Eye Dominance Hearing State: Fatigue Hydration Motivation Emotional Arousal

7. Key Challenge – Task Complexity and Variability USER Type of Mission Phase of Mission Concurrent Tasks Time Pressure Threat Environment TASK Individual & Team Tasks Perceptual Tasks (observe) Cognitive Tasks (orient, understand, decide) Physical Tasks (act)

8. Key Challenge – Equipment Complexity and Variability Compatibility vs Integration, Modularity, Scalability, Individual Clothing & Personal Equipment Collective / Team Equipment USER Legacy vs Future TOOLS TASK Weapon, Transport, Communication & Battle Management Systems Utility Usability Modality Salience

9. Key Challenge – Environment Complexity and Variability Noise: Sound Discrimination & Localization Speech Intelligibility Hearing Protection Future Security Environment Threat USER Lighting: Day/Night Obscurants Cultural Weather: Temperature Humidity Precipitation TOOLS TASK Training Organizational ENVIRONMENT Terrain: Slope, Surface, Cover

10. EFFECTIVE SOLDIER SYSTEM INTEGRATION Can this soldier, with this training, perform this task, to this standard, with this equipment, and under these conditions? USER TOOLS TASK ENVIRONMENT

11. Soldier HSI complex and multidisciplinary Workshop participant expertise also highly varied, crossing many domains and communities of interest Decision to group first break-out discussion along a few key themes/hard problem categories to which a range of DND/industry/ academic participants could contribute Recognize that there is significant overlap between these categories since we are considering HSI Workshop Themes

12. Physical ergonomics and physical integration on the soldier (internal physical integration) Cognitive ‘ergonomics’ and integration with the soldier perceptual/cognitive capabilities (internal psychological integration) System Architecture and Integration/Operability with other Systems and Processes (external integration) Workshop Themes

13. Soldier System Physical Characterization (physical environment, behavioural task analyses, user characterisation – size, shape, age, strength, handedness, etc) Soldier Burden (due to environment/exercise/work/load, physiology, load carriage, biomechanics, thermal, noise, impact of PPE, volume/bulk, etc) Fit, form, anthropometry, human machine interface Physical usability of soldier equipment/components Physical compatibility of interfaces, with and between components of the soldier system Clothing, Personal Equipment, PPE, personal weapon interface, load carriage, Display and Control hardware design Tools and Processes (that help to understand and/or apply the foregoing knowledge areas to the design/acquisition of the physical soldier system, or that help select/train soldiers to improve their op readiness) 1. Physical Ergonomics & Physical Integration on the Soldier (Internal Physical Integration)

14. Soldier System Characterization(user perceptual capabilities – vision, hearing; cognitive style, characteristics, intelligence, etc) Effect of stressors on perception/cognition Socio/Psychological Readiness Information overload, situation awareness, common operational picture, decision aids Devices to enhance or augment soldier perception, understanding and decision-making (e.g., sensors, NVGs, digital maps, blue force tracking, decision aids, Combat ID, augmented cognition, intelligent adaptive interfaces, etc) Display GUI and content(imagery, information) Cognitive Psychology, Engineering Psychology, Human Computer Interaction, usability engineering Tools & Processes(that help us understand and apply knowledge of soldier perceptual/cognitive capabilities in soldier system integration or that help to train/select soldiers to improve their operational readiness) 2. Cognitive ‘Ergonomics’ & integration with the soldier psychological capabilities (Internal Psychological Integration)

15. Integration/ Interoperability with other Platforms and Systems Weapon systems (Personal & Crew-Served) Vehicles & transport platforms C4I Systems Autonomous Sensors/Vehicles (UXVs) System Architecture Modularity/Configurability Adaptability Scalability Hardware integration/optimization Integration with Processes HSI within Systems Engineering process, within DND acquisition, etc Tools that facilitate more effective HSI Comprehensive Approach, System of systems 3. System Architecture and Integration/ Interoperability with other Systems (External Integration)

16. Soldier variability (physical characteristics) Soldier load Trade-offs between protection & mobility Compatibility between soldier system components Physical Ergonomics and Physical Integration Challenges

17. 1996 Clothed Anthropometry survey 1997 Survey of the Land Forces Additional surveys relevant to specific development efforts Development & application of 2D & 3D anthropometry to better characterize shape variability 3D anthro modelling tools Ongoing collection of data using whole body scanning system (BoSS) Current efforts underway to update soldier anthro data (nude and clothed) Anthropometric Characterization BoSS

18. Shape Variability (both soldiers have same head breadth) 5th and 95th percentile male For head breadth Anthropometric Variability For Head Breadth One size does not fit all!

19. Percentiles vs Population accommodation For a given male head breadth (153mm) Head length ranges more than 30 mm (183 to 215 mm)

20. Based on several key studies, NATO recommends that the maximum load that soldiers should carry for extended periods is 32% of body weight (26.2 kg for 82 kg soldier) Key Challenge – Soldier Load • Yet our soldiers in current operations are carrying (often by choice) significantly heavier loads • Extra ammunition • Extra water • Spare batteries • Added protection to counter new threats

21. Perception & acceptance of load by soldiers is complex Critical to acceptance of load is: Absolute weight Weight distribution/ balance Design of interface Presence of other environmental stressors Perception of risk Value of the payload to the user Makes specification of soldier equipment weight problematic (very context dependent) Points to the need to be user-centered involve representative users, doing representative tasks under realistic conditions as part of system definition, design & selection process

22. How to Address Soldier Load • Understand what soldiers are carrying and why • Understand and model the physiological, biomechanical, task performance implications of loads and load carriage designs • Understand and model mobility/vulnerability implications of the range of loads carried • Share this knowledge/models with all stakeholders (DND & industry)

23. Example studies to model/determine weight limits/balance optimization for specific equipment (e.g., head-supported mass, assault rifle mass properties) CM of Rifle(X=0) +7cm -7cm Z-Axis Torque T12 L4 + 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 kg mass at 3 CoM locations + 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 kg mass at user’s preferred centre of mass

24. Swedish Study (Daniellson 2006)

25. Require that new equipment incrementally contribute to reduced soldier load Use of novel materials (e.g., caseless ammunition) Or design approaches (e.g., integration, modularity) Consider comprehensive approach vice just equipment or technical solutions Deal with soldier perception of risk (provide SA tools to give soldier ensure reliable resupply) Address reliability of resupply/sustainment system Select bigger stronger soldiers? Physical training of soldiers? Eg. Scalable head protection

26. Studies of Compatibility between PPE & weapon Viability of alternative options for effective integration of increase face/neck/nape protection with weapon butt stocks & sights Physical Compatibility

27. QUESTIONS ?