The objective of the proposed research is to study the integration of humans and automation for the operation of regenerative life support systems (RLSS). RLSS combine physico-chemical and biological processes with the purpose of increasing the autonomy of space habitats and the life quality of their living organisms by properly reusing byproducts and regenerating consumable resources. However, these processes require energy and time to transform chemical compounds and organic wastes into nutrients, consumables, and edible products. Consequently, the maintenance of RLSS imposes a considerable workload on human operators. In addition, the uncertainties introduced by unintended chemical reactions promoted by material loop closure may create unexpected situations that, if unattended, could translate into performance deterioration, human errors, and failures. The availability of novel chemical and biological sensors together with computational resources enable the development of monitoring and automation systems to alleviate human workload, help avoid human error, and increase the overall reliability of these systems. This research aggregates sensor data and human-expert situation assessments to create a representation of their situation knowledge base (\gloss{skb}). The representation is used in a switched control approach to the automation of RLSS, for decision support, and human-automation coordination. The aggregation method consists of an optimization process based on particle swarms. The purpose of this work is to contribute to the methodological development of situation-oriented and user-centered design approaches to human-automation systems. Experiments and simulations are supported on the process of respiration in an aquatic habitat acting as a RLSS.

Thesis. 1977. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. / M̲i̲c̲ṟo̲f̲i̲c̲ẖe̲ c̲o̲p̲y̲ a̲v̲a̲i̲ḻa̲ḇḻe̲ i̲ṉ A̲ṟc̲ẖi̲v̲e̲s̲ a̲ṉḏ S̲c̲i̲e̲ṉc̲e̲.̲ / Bibliography : leaves 286-295. / by Albert Sacco, Jr. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Bibliography: leaves 190-192. / by James Edwin Garmirian. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2009. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 2, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis: Sc. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, 1976 / Bibliography: p. 361-366. / Sc. D. / Sc. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering

"The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to send a human exploration team to Mars within the next 25 years. In support of this effort Hamilton Standard Space Systems International (HSSSI), current manufacturers of the Space Shuttle spacesuit, began exploring alternative solutions for supporting an astronaut during a Martian surface exploration. A design concept was developed by HSSSI to integrate a minimally equipped Martian spacesuit with a robotic support cart capable of providing life support assistance, communications, and independent navigational functions. To promote NASA's visionary efforts and increase university relations, HSSSI partnered with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to develop a proof-of-concept robotic support cart system, FIDOE - Fully Independent Delivery of Expendables. As a proof-of-concept system, the primary goal of this project was to demonstrate the feasibility of current technologies utilized by FIDOE's communication and controls system for future Martian surface explorations. The primary objective of this project was to procure selected commercial-off-the-shelf components and configure these components into a functional robotic support cart. The design constraints for this project, in addition to the constraints imposed by the Martian environment and HSSSI's Martian spacesuit, were a one-year time frame and a $20,000 budget for component procurement. This project was also constrained by the protocols defined by the NASA demonstration test environment. The final design configuration comprised of 37 major commercial off-the-shelf components and three individual software packages that integrated together to provide FIDOE's communications and control capabilities. Power distribution was internally handled through a combination of a main power source and dedicated power supplies. FIDOE also provided a stowage area for handling assisted life support systems and geological equipment. The proof-of-concept FIDOE system proved that the current technologies represented by the selected components are feasible applications for a Mars effort. Specifically, the FIDOE system demonstrated that the chosen technologies can be integrated to perform assisted life support and independent functions. While some technologies represented by the proof-of-concept system may not adequately address the robustness issues pertaining to the Mars effort, e.g., voice recognition and power management, technology trends indicate that these forms of technology will soon become viable solutions to assisting an astronaut on a Martian surface exploration."

Este estudo teve como objetivos: compreender como se dá o processo de o enfermeiro exercer sua autonomia nas decisões de final de vida vivenciadas em UTI adulto; identificar os significados que ele atribui à experiência de tomar decisões e de exercer sua autonomia nas situações de final de vida dos pacientes internados na UTI adulto; construir uma teoria substantiva sobre a compreensão de exercer a sua autonomia nas tomadas de decisão em situações de final de vida dos pacientes na UTI adulto. Utilizou-se como referencial teórico o Interacionismo Simbólico e como referencial metodológico a Teoria Fundamentada em Dados. A análise comparativa dos dados possibilitou desvendar o significado de exercer autonomia do enfermeiro com pacientes em final de vida internados na UTI adulto. Foi possível serem identificados três fenômenos que compõem esta experiência. O primeiro,Trabalhando num ambiente de pressão, representa a etapa inicial da experiência do enfermeiro, agrega não somente o contexto que permeia o seu trabalho na UTI, mas também os aspectos clínicos do paciente, as interações com os outros profissionais e com a família nas tomadas de decisão de final de vida. O segundo,Buscando empoderar-se para poder decidir, mostra o movimento, no qual o enfermeiro cria estratégias para ampliar as oportunidades a fim de poder exercer autonomia. O terceiro,Revendo os espaços para exercer autonomia, reconsidera outros espaços onde possa atuar no processo de final de vida, em relação ao planejamento do cuidado ao paciente, no acolhimento das famílias nas tomadas de decisão ou, ainda, na interface com os membros da equipe e a instituição. A articulação destes fenômenos permitiu identificar a categoria central AMPLIANDO AS OPORTUNIDADES PARA EXERCER A AUTONOMIA, que representa o processo vivido pelo enfermeiro na busca de espaços de poder de decisão e de ação ao assumir seu papel nos cuidados no processo de final de vida. / The purpose of this study is to: understand the process of autonomy exercised by nurses when making decisions related to end-of-life situations they in the adult ICU; to identify the meanings that nurses attribute to the experience of making decisions and of exercising their autonomy in end-of-life situations of adult patients in ICU; to construct a theoretical model about the process of understanding the exercise of their autonomy in decision-making relating to end-of-life situations of adult patients in the ICU. The study used as a theoretical reference the Symbolic Interactionism, and as methodological reference, the Grounded theory. The comparative analysis of the data has permitted the understanding of the meaning of nurses experience in exercising autonomy relating to life-ending adult patients in the ICU. Three phenomena that compose this experience have been identified: The first, \"Working in an environment of pressure,\" represents the initial phase of nurses experience, adding not only the features that exist within the ICU where the work is done, but also the clinical aspects of patients interaction with other professionals and family in end of life decision-making. The second, \"Seeking to gain power in order to be allowed to make decisions,\" shows the movement in which nurses create strategies for expanding opportunities in order to exercise autonomy. The third phenomena, \"Reviewing the spaces to exercise autonomy,\" reconsiders other spaces where nurses can act in end-of-life situations regarding planning of patient care, supporting families on their decision making and interface with health team members and the institution. The articulation of these phenomena has permitted the identification of the central category EXPANDING-THE-OPPORTUNITIES-FOR-EXERCISE AUTONOMY, based on which it has been possible to propose a theoretical model that explains the experience. It represents the process experienced by nurses in seeking spaces of power regarding decision making and action to assume the care role in end-of-life process.