HYDRAULIC HORIZONS
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN
BRAWN AND BRAIN
CCEFP research aims to integrate physical and cognitive capabilities
to develop more efficient human-machine fluid power interfaces
The Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid
Power (CCEFP) is using simulations like the
graphic user interface (left) and virtual exca-
vator software with haptic feedback (right)
shown here, to integrate physical and cognitive
aspects of human performance modeling.
BY KYLE KOPPLIN
Like it or not, we all have physi- cal and mental limitations that must be reckoned with on a
daily basis. And even in this era of
ever-evolving technologies, in the end
any machine can only function as well
as a human designs or operates it.
This essential truth is what led
Steven Jiang, assistant professor at
North Carolina A&T State University
and group leader for the Center for
Compact and Efficient Fluid Power
(CCEFP), and his group of students
to investigate the impact the cognitive
and physical capabilities of a user has
on the operational effectiveness of a
fluid power system.
“Our argument is, there is a link
between both the cognitive and
physical aspects of the human
performance,” said Jiang. “Our goal
is to develop upon an integrated
framework that will combine the two.
A lot of research emphasis in the
fluid power industry, especially in
fluid power systems, focuses more
on the systems aspect than the
user. Our research area is in human
factors, so our interest is in how to
improve human performance in fluid
power systems.”
According to the CCEFP, fluid
power systems have become fun-
damental in many industries due to
factors including cost, power, flexibil-
ity and performance. However, most
systems are still manually controlled,
which leaves room for errors due to
misunderstandings that arise during
complex interactions between opera-
tors and machines.
