Evaluating Sociotechnical Dynamics in a Simulated Remotely-Piloted Aircraft System: A Layered Dynamics Approach.

As coordination mechanisms change and technology failures occur, a sociotechnical system must reorganize itself across human and technological layers to maintain effectiveness. We present a study examining reorganization across communication, controls, and vehicle layers of a remotely-piloted aircraft system (RPAS) using a layered dynamics approach. Team members (pilot; navigator; photographer) performed 5 simulated RPAS missions using different operator configurations, including all-human and human-autonomy teams. Reorganization (operationally defined using entropy) time series measured the changing system reorganization profiles under different operator configurations and following autonomy failures. Correlations between these reorganization profiles and team effectiveness scores describe the manner in which the system had to be coordinated to maintain effectiveness under these changing conditions. Four unplanned autonomy failures were analyzed to visualize system reorganization following a technology failure. With its objective and real-time modeling and measurement capabilities, layered dynamics complements existing systems thinking tools for understanding sociotechnical complexity and enhancing system effectiveness.