Function allocation refers to strategies for dis-
tributing system functions and tasks across people
and technology. We review approaches to function
allocation in the context of human machine teaming
with technology that exhibits high levels of autonomy
(e.g., unmanned aerial systems). Although most func-
tion allocation projects documented in the literature
have employed a single method, we advocate for an
integrated approach that leverages four key activities:
(1) analyzing operational demands and work require-
ments; (2) exploring alternative distribution of work
across person and machine agents that make up a
human machine team (HMT); (3) examining interde-
pendencies between human and autonomous tech-
nologies required for effective HMT performance
under routine and off-nominal (unexpected) condi-
tions; and (4) exploring the trade-space of alternative
HMT options. Our literature review identified meth-
ods to support each of these activities. In combination,
they enable system designers to uncover, explore, and
weigh a range of critical design considerations beyond
those emphasized by the MABA–MABA (“Men are
better at, Machines are better at”) and Levels of Auto-
mation function allocation traditions. Example applica-
tions are used to illustrate the value of these methods
to design of HMT that includes autonomous machine
agents.
Keywords: cognitive task analysis, cognitive work
analysis, function allocation, human machine teaming,
human autonomy teaming, human–automation interac-
tion, human system integration, methods, topics
INTRODUCTION
The advent of advanced technologies that
exhibit high levels of intelligence and autonomy
(e.g., self-driving cars; unmanned aerial systems
[UASs]) raises important questions with respect
to how to best distribute tasks across people
and autonomous elements and what forms of
interaction are required to support effective
human machine teaming. The range of ques-
tions that arise includes the following: (1) do
the new, more autonomous technologies enable
a reduction in the number of people tradition-
ally required to perform a task (e.g., can you
reduce the crew size required to operate an
aircraft?)? (2) how should tasks be redistributed
across the people and autonomous agents in the
system? (3) what kinds of interaction with the
new autonomous technology will be required
to operate safely and efficiently across a wide
range of contextual situations? (4) will the
people in the system be able to support these
interactions within sustainable levels of work-
load? (5) what types of human interfaces will be
required to support the necessary interactions?
These questions largely fall within the scope
of what has traditionally been termed function
allocation—a front-end analysis that is con-
ducted to establish how system functions and
tasks should be distributed across people, hard-
ware, and software (MIL-HDBK-46855A,
1999; MIL-STD-46855A, 2011). Function allo-
cation covers human–human function alloca-
tion, team design, and human–automation func-
tion allocation (Joe, O’Hara, Hugo, & Oxstrand,
2015). It is traditionally conducted as part of the
human systems integration (HSI) process used
during the design of complex systems (MIL-
STD-46855A, 2011). In this paper, we review a
range of approaches that have been used to
878038EDM XX X 10.1177/1555343419878038Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision MakingShort Title
2019
Address correspondence to Emilie M. Roth, Roth Cognitive
Engineering, 765 Frenchmans Road, Stanford, CA 94305,
emroth@mindspring.com.
Special Issue
Function Allocation Considerations in the Era of Human
Autonomy Teaming
Emilie M. Roth , Roth Cognitive Engineering, USA,
Christen Sushereba, Laura G. Militello , Julie Diiulio,
and Katie Ernst, Applied Decision Science, USA
Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making
201X, Volume XX, Number X, Month 2019, pp. 1–22
DOI: 10.1177/1555343419878038
Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions
Copyright © 2019, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.