Influence of Cultural, Organizational and Automation Factors on Human-Automation Trust: A Case Study of Auto-GCAS Engineers and Developmental History

This paper examines the influence of cultural, organizational and automation capability upon human trust in, and reliance on, automation in the context of an extended case study of the US Air Force Automatic Ground Collisions Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS). The paper focuses on the analyses of the system's developmental history and the perspectives of engineers involved in its development. Key findings indicate that the success of the system was a result of the innovative solutions developed; and a strong alignment between the engineering and experimental test pilot cultures. The findings suggest that the Auto-GCAS system was designed and tested in such a way as to promote effective trust calibration. A summary of the foundational lessons about how trust is influenced by cultural and organizational factors, implications of this research for adding to the body of knowledge on human-automation trust, and future research avenues, are also discussed.