Improvement of human–machine interface of complex technical systems using fractional-order PIλDμ controllers

Abstract

One of the most essential characteristics of a complex technical system is that it performs ‘an important useful function only with the assistance of a human operator and standard infrastructures…’ [1]. At the earliest stages of the development of a system, deciding whether the human operator should be regarded as part of the complex system or an external entity is necessary. In most cases, the human operator should be treated as an external entity.
Most complex technical systems cannot function without the active involvement of a human operator, who retains responsibility for decision-making, control, and management functions. From a functional standpoint, operators can be considered an integral part of the system. However, the system designer rarely possesses sufficient authority over the operator to incorporate them fully into the system’s design. From the perspective of the systems engineer, the human operator instead represents an element of the system’s environment.
Under this paradigm, the systems engineer must devote particular attention to the design and development of the operator interface, which is a critically important aspect of any complex technical system [2]. Accordingly, the development of universal technical solutions that enhance the quality of the human–machine interface in complex technical systems represents both a significant and timely challenge, the resolution of which can be applied across a wide range of practical applications.
The primary objective of the present work is to improve the performance of the human–machine interface by compensating for the inertial and nonlinear characteristics of the human operator as a control element within a complex technical system.