Human factors in military maritime and expeditionary settings: Opportunity for autonomous systems?

Abstract

In military settings, the maritime and expeditionary environments present unique operational, environmental, and logistical considerations for the human which are not present within land-based and established military locations (i.e. training or garrison settings). Advances in autonomous and unmanned systems may play key roles in addressing these issues. This paper will: briefly provide an overview of some human factors considerations in the maritime and expeditionary environment; address how autonomous systems may help overcome human factors challenges; and discuss how human-machine teaming and science & technology informed policy may be effective means to overcome some of autonomy’s unintended risks (i.e. accidental escalation) presented to military leaders and facilitate stability.