Human Factors Challenges in Enabling Autonomous Nuclear Operations

Abstract

Autonomous operations in nuclear power involve complex human factors challenges. This is because the industry has been held to a high standard for safety due to a combination of consequence and public perception of risk and consequence. In industries like manufacturing and transportation, the risks associated with autonomous system failures are typically managed incrementally, allowing for faster adoption and iterative learning based on real-world data. Advanced autonomous concepts in nuclear power often require a redefinition of the operator’s role, which may bring about skill degradation, trust miscalibration, and compromised situation awareness. While these human factors challenges are not new to process control environments with high automation, the industry’s strong regulatory environment, rarity of high-consequence events, and defense-in-depth philosophy mean that addressing these challenges calls for tailored, evidence-based solutions. In this paper, we review characteristics within nuclear power that present human factors challenges that take on added complexity with autonomous operations.