(Nov 24, 2008)

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 represent 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 v5, the most recent release, retains the human cognitive and behavioral models as well as output visualization provided by Siemen's Tecnomatix Jack from earlier MIDAS versions. MIDAS v5 incorporates the 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 v5 provides 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. 
MIDAS v5 possesses distributed simulation capability 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 now features the A-SA/SEEV model for guiding attention.