Nascent Design Principles for Human-Machine Interfaces in Airborne Manned-Unmanned Teaming

Abstract

Manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) design remains theoretically fragmented despite growing operational deployment across civilian and military aviation domains. This research-in-progress addresses this gap through a literature-grounded design science study embedded in the echelon design science research framework. Based on a systematic synthesis of 10 fixed-wing MUM-T empirical studies, we derive four theory-grounded, nascent design principles: Context-Adaptive Automation Intervention, Hierarchical Delegation Granularity, Integrated Tem- poral-Spatial Plan Visualization, and Bidirectional Human-Autonomy Negotiation. The contribution is positioned as Level 1 nascent design theory, consolidating fragmented findings into actionable prescriptions justified by cognitive engineering and human-automation interaction theories. The principles establish an initial prescriptive knowledge base for subsequent artifact instantiation and evaluation with operational pilots.