Implications for operator interactions in an agent supervisory control relationship

In order to support a human UAV operator during his mission management task, an artificial cognitive agent (ACU), operated on the basis of high-level tasks, is introduced onboard an unmanned automated aircraft. In analogy to human UAV guidance, the ACU does not interact directly with the aircraft, but rather formulates discrete commands for the automation and continually supervises their execution. In accordance with Sheridan´s Human Supervisory Control, we describe this relationship between the agent and the underlying automation by the term of Agent Supervisory Control. In this role, the ACU performs Supervisory Functions, with which the tasks of the operator are supplemented, reviewed and finally decomposed into single actions. These actions are then performed using the onboard conventional automation. The agent considers the automation functions of the UAV as capabilities that are managed and incorporated into its planning and execution process in accordance to their availability and requirements. During task execution, the ACU supplies the operator with information, as to keep him in charge of the aircraft at all times. The extent, form and frequency of the information depend on the necessities of the specific situation and the current task. The information requirements of the operator and a possible operator information-overload due to its detail must be weighed against each other.