Supporting operator-automatic-cooperation

Im empirical studies of the handling of simulated nuclear power plant incidents, it was observed that the control room operators were having difficulties in interacting with the automatic control systems. As the problems seemed to stem from the operators' inability to form a picture of how the complex echelons of automatic control systems are functionning, their information requirements to support the nine forms of operator-automatic-cooperation have been analysed. It is proposed that information about the 'goals' of the automatic control measure would aid the operators in their tasks of monitoring, diagnosing and managing multi-fault incidents. (author)