Human Factors Phase III: Effects of Train Control Technology on Operator Performance

Details

• Creators:
  Lanzilotta, E. ; Sheridan, T.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Automation
  • High speed rail
  • Human factors
  • Risk assessment
  • Safety
  • Train operation
  • Automatic train operation
  • human-in-the-loop simulation
  • supervisory controls
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-VNTSC-FRA-05-01 ; DOT/FRA/ORD-04/18
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report August 1993 - July 1997
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
• Abstract:
  This report describes a study evaluating the effects of train control technology on locomotive engineer performance. Several types of train control systems were evaluated: partial automation (cruise control and programmed stop) and full automation were compared to manual train control. The study evaluated how these systems affected human performance related to position control, speed regulation and response to system failures, using a human-in-the-loop locomotive simulator. The study found a significant difference in the variance of response times to brake failures and traction motor failures for the partial automation condition compared to manual and full automation conditions. In this condition, participants biased toward monitoring events outside the locomotive instead of the instrument panel.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  R2103/RR204
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8755/dot_8755_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.80 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Federal Railroad Administration ; Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:afae7b8cc75c9616f6f63537e8118e7426a54957c2d6df909291f309ad29218c