The Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System (MIDAS) is a rapid prototyping human performance modeling and simulation environment that facilitates the design, visualization, and computational evaluation of complex man-machine system concepts in simulated operational environments. MIDAS is composed of a physical anthropometric model, computational cognitive structures and human behavioral models that represents human capabilities and limitations. The cognitive component includes visual and auditory perceptual and memory models. Basic human primitive tasks needed for human-system interaction such as scanning behaviors, small hand movements, reach, speak and listen are included in the human behavioral models. Workload and situation awareness timelines are graphical outputs.

MIDAS 5.x, the most recent release, retains the human cognitive and behavioral models as well as output visualization provided by Siemen's Tecnomatix JACK. MIDAS 5.x incorporates Alion Science and Technology's Micro Saint Sharp discrete event simulation tool, which also serves as MIDAS’ scheduler. The intuitive, integrated MIDAS/Sharp interface allows the user to build human procedures from MIDAS primitive tasks, create their own tasks, incorporate a series of nested procedures, change the situation awareness context during the simulation and manipulate visual and auditory attributes of equipment components. Micro Saint Sharp allows the MIDAS analyst to organize the human-system interactions visually, thereby greatly improving the model’s transparency. The discrete event engine ensures that the underlying MIDAS cognitive and human behavioral models are consistently applied throughout the model run.

MIDAS 5.x is now able to provide improved multi-operator performance predictions, improved closed loop modeling capabilities (e.g. workload threshold drives time estimates and subsequent task schedule), improved integration of performance moderator functions (e.g. simple fatigue model), enhanced three stage memory model, monte carlo simulation capability and stochastic human performance.

In the upcoming release, 5.x, distributed simulation capability will be added using the Micro Saint Sharp Talk feature to allow passing of equipment attributes as well as attributes (i.e. location, size) of features outside the crew station between MIDAS and external simulations. In addition, MIDAS will feature the A-SA/SEEV model for guiding attention.

MIDAS is currently being exercised in an Aviation Safety SA model that uses the A-SA/SEEV attention model and an Airspace Super Density Operations (ASDO) model that can be seen in the applications link.