Console Task Delegation for Operator Workload Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial console operators face challenges in maintaining situational awareness and managing workload due to numerous small, attention-diverting tasks that require interactions with various devices, often arising ad-hoc and extending over time, making it impractical to rely on human assistants for task delegation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a console task delegation system that allows operators to select and execute tasks autonomously, using a task selection module, execution engine, update module, and alert module to manage and notify on task completion, thereby reducing operator workload and improving situational awareness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If operators perform numerous small tasks manually, then task completion is achieved, but operator workload increases and situational awareness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask completion efficiencyVSAvoidsituational awareness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The console system performs tasks autonomously without requiring operator intervention. The task execution module automatically carries out selected tasks, and the system self-manages task scheduling, execution monitoring, and completion notification, freeing the operator from manual task performance while maintaining full situational awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automated task management system as an intermediary between the operator and task execution. This intermediary system handles task selection, execution, and monitoring, allowing the operator to delegate tasks without direct involvement in their performance, thus preventing attention division while ensuring task completion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If human assistants are used for task delegation, then operator workload is reduced, but cost and resource availability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator workloadVSAvoidhuman assistant resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human assistant operators with an automated electronic task execution system. The console's task execution module performs tasks that would otherwise require human assistants, eliminating the need for additional human resources while reducing operator workload through automated delegation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If operators attend to multiple tasks simultaneously, then task completion is achieved, but attention division increases and effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-task completionVSAvoidoperator effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operator's workload by separating task selection from task execution. The operator segments their attention by selecting tasks at appropriate times without being tied to their continuous execution, while the system handles execution independently. This segmentation allows the operator to maintain effectiveness by focusing on high-level decision-making rather than getting divided by detailed task execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230376872A1Ad-HOC delegation of console tasks to a console

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

One embodiment is for a task selection module which enables an operator to select a task to delegate ad-hoc, a task comprising an action that includes a plurality of interactions with a second device or system.