engineering

Out-of-the-loop performance problem

Out-of-the-loop performance problem is a engineering topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Out-of-the-loop performance problem rather than just read about it. In short: The out-of-the-loop performance problem (OOL or OOTL) arises when an operator suffers from performance decrement as a consequence of automation. The potential loss of skills and of situation awareness caused by vigilance and complacency problems might make operators of automated systems unable to operate manually in case of system failure.

Key takeaways

Out-of-the-loop performance problem belongs to engineering; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Out-of-the-loop performance problem to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Out-of-the-loop performance problem from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The out-of-the-loop performance problem (OOL or OOTL) arises when an operator suffers from performance decrement as a consequence of automation. The potential loss of skills and of situation awareness caused by vigilance and complacency problems might make operators of automated systems unable to operate manually in case of system failure. Highly automated systems reduce the operator to monitoring role, which diminishes the chances for the operator to understand the system. It is related to mind wandering.

Etymology OOL is also known as out-of-the-loop syndrome and out-of-the-loop effect. One of the first mentions of the term "out of the loop" is found in a patent by Willard Meilander from Goodyear Aerospace Corporation for automated aircraft control in 1972. More early mentions of OOL came up in the context of flight automation in 1980s.

Consequences Three Mile Island accident in 1979, USAir Flight 5050 crash in 1989, Air France Flight 447 in 2009 and the loss of $400 million by Knight Capital Group in 2012 are attributed to OOL.

Automatic train operation Automatic train operation is meant to reduce manual operation. This results in OOL performance problem for train drivers.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Out-of-the-loop performance problem

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Out-of-the-loop performance problem claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In engineering, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Out-of-the-loop performance problem before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Out-of-the-loop performance problem ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Out-of-the-loop performance problem

In research: Out-of-the-loop performance problem appears in engineering research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Out-of-the-loop performance problem in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Out-of-the-loop performance problem is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cognitive ergonomics, Impact of automation, Robotics stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Out-of-the-loop performance problem outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Out-of-the-loop performance problem in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Out-of-the-loop performance problem means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Out-of-the-loop performance problem out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Out-of-the-loop performance problem in simple terms?

Why does Out-of-the-loop performance problem matter?

Because it connects several engineering ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Out-of-the-loop performance problem?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Out-of-the-loop performance problem.