Human Factors & Ergonomics (HFE) Hub Donna Duffy - Design Improves Life
Jul 11, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Donna Duffy, a seasoned Human Factors Engineering Specialist with over 25 years in the field, shares her journey from psychology to the forefront of human factors in defense and aviation. She delves into cognitive modeling for interface design and the significance of human-machine teaming, particularly for autonomous systems. Donna highlights her role in the MQ-28 Ghost Bat project and the importance of ergonomics for operators. She also discusses innovative VR solutions for maintenance checks and the challenges of rapid prototyping while advocating for user safety.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Human Factors Bridges Psychology And Design
- Donna Duffy describes human factors as a career-foundation that links psychology to system design and organisational change.
- She emphasises cognitive ergonomics as her preferred specialty for improving how systems work for people.
Using ACT-R For Objective Workload Modeling
- Donna worked on cognitive modelling using ACT-R to get objective workload data rather than relying solely on subjective measures like NASA-TLX.
- The modelling helped develop requirements and interface design for one-to-many human–machine teaming.
Autonomy Still Needs Human-Centred Design
- The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an unmanned loyal wingman designed to augment crewed aircraft and reduce pilot risk.
- Even autonomous platforms require HFE for maintainers, ground control and operator interfaces.