Charlotte Strobbe is currently a Ph.D. student at ISAE-SUPAERO and Ingenuity i/o within the FlexTech Chair. The aim of this thesis is to propose an approach that will enable to address the design of current systems (systems of systems, human-cyber-physical systems, …) by considering the human part of these systems as early as possible in their design. This approach is based on the implementation of a Human-Systems Integration (HSI) process supported by tangible Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) through a tangible system model ensuring digital continuity throughout the system design process.
In 2023, Charlotte Strobbe completed a double engineering degree in mechanical engineering and systems engineering at the University of Mons (Belgium) and ISAE SUPAERO (France).
Thesis project summary: The current thesis proposal is to revisit how to analyze functional, behavioral, structural and experiential requirements to ensure adequate support for humans and systems, for example the single pilot in a commercial aircraft. The idea is to rely on Human-System-Integration (HSI). HSI is based on Human-Centered Design (HCD), collaborative work, cognitive engineering, complexity analysis, organizational design and management, "human-in-the-loop" modeling and simulation, advanced interaction media and the study of mission-critical systems. HCD combined with systems engineering (SI) leads to HSI. This thesis proposes to build on the state-of-the-art by modeling systems, modeling the behavior of operators in the broadest sense and, based on HSI, proposing a new approach to sharing activities to manage optimal control, perfect nuclear power plant operation under the constraints of all legislation, etc. This will involve modeling the needs of operators, their roles and responsibilities, as well as their role and responsibilities. This will involve modeling needs, followed by functional, behavioral, structural and experiential requirements, including autonomous automated modes and human-controlled modes, and the transition between the two. Various studies (e.g. for commercial aircraft) provide a basis for such modeling. Thus, this thesis will open up perspectives for the functional architecture of future systems and identify prospects for the design of these systems and how to manage them.
With this in mind, HSI is a process designed to ensure that human capabilities and limitations are effectively considered in system design and development. The application of this approach helps to reduce costs in the system life cycle by ensuring that designers take user-related elements into account when developing this cycle, and thus avoid unforeseen additional costs. MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering), on the other hand, is defined as the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation, starting with the design phase and continuing throughout development and the lifecycle. Given the advantages of these two tools, using them together in system design would be more than beneficial to industry. How can MBSE and HSI be optimally combined in system design? Answering this question is the challenge of this thesis. As the role of the user becomes increasingly important in system design, a process is needed to systematically take user capabilities into account during the design phase. The aim of this thesis is therefore to work on an approach capable of supporting informed design and decision-making during the design of human-centered systems. To achieve this goal, HSI, MBSE and agent-based simulation will be studied, laying the foundations for reliable decision-making.
