Col David Wirth
The purpose of this briefing is to provide an overview of the Human Effectiveness Technical Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory and to introduce a block presentation showcasing technology that is being transitioned directly from the benches of scientists and engineers to the hands of the operational warfighters. A brief depiction of the three central interconnected core technology areas for the Human Effectiveness Directorate will be presented: Train as We Fight, Decision Effectiveness and Immunity from Threat.
The following technologies from the AFRL Battlespace Acoustics Branch will subsequently be introduced.
The most complex and most integral part of any weapons system is the human being who must interface somewhere in the chain of events. Keep in mind there are no unmanned systems. The human may not sit in the cockpit but will remain totally engaged at some point, further back in the control chain. Human factors engineering is a critical juncture in the planning and development of any mechanical platform, weapons system or interface, yet it is often the most neglected consideration in system design and development. That oversight results in huge costs for system retrofit and unduly compromises the safety of our airmen, soldiers and sailors.
At the Human Effectiveness Technical Directorate, our goal is to leverage science and technology to enhance operator performance and safe human interface.