GT-COMET: An Architecture to Enhance Error Tolerance in Safety-Critical Systems

• Published in: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 258 - 261
• Main Authors: Palmer, Michael T., Chappell, Alan R., Thurman, David A., Mitchell, Christine M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2000
• ISSN: 1541-9312; 1071-1813; 2169-5067
• DOI: 10.1177/154193120004400170

To address the problem of human error in safety-critical systems, the GT-COMET (Georgia Tech Consequence Modeling for Error Tolerance) architecture is proposed. This architecture provides task management assistance to enhance error tolerance by helping human operators detect and correct potential errors before they have serious operational consequences. GT-COMET extends the OFM/OFMspert methodology, which attempts to match detected operator actions with actions expected by a normative model. Mismatches between detected actions and model expectations represent potential errors, and GT-COMET uses the likely consequences of these potential errors to construct task management reminders so the operators can correct errors before the system is adversely affected. This paper presents an overview of the GT-COMET architecture and its proof-of-concept implementation for pilots of an MD-11 aircraft.