Citation

Stein AC, Allen RW, Jex HR. Transp. Res. Rec. 1985; 1047: 33-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A brief manual control test and decision strategy have been developed, laboratory tested, and field validated, which provide a means for detecting human operator impairment from alcohol or other drugs. The test requires the operator to stabilize progressively unstable controlled element dynamics. Control theory and experimental data verify that the human operator's control ability on this task is constrained by basic cybernetic characteristics, and that task performance is reliably affected by impairment effects on these characteristics. Assessment of human operator control ability is determined by a statistically based decision strategy. The operator is allowed several chances to exceed a preset pass criterion. Procedures are described for setting the pass criterion based on individual ability and a desired unimpaired failure rate. These procedures were field tested with an automobile-installed apparatus designed to discourage drunk drivers from operating their vehicles. This test program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, demonstrated that the control task and detection strategy could be applied in a practical setting to screen human operators for impairment in their basic cybernetic skills.

Record URL:
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1047/1047-006.pdf

Language: en

Keywords

AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS; DECISION THEORY AND ANALYSIS; HUMAN ENGINEERING - Manual Control; SYSTEMS SCIENCE AND CYBERNETICS - Man Machine Systems