Using hybrid automata to support human factors analysis in a critical system

As devices and techinques for continuous interaction become increasingly common, it is important to consider how interactive systems can be modelled in a way which allows systematic analysis of their behavioural properties. This kind of interactive system can be seen as hybrid systems, which are systems containing both discrete components (very often for control), and continuous components. Hybrid automata have been developed to allow the specification and computer assisted analysis of such systems. In this paper we explore the use of hybrid automata for the specification and analysis of interactive systems, and apply the approach to the analysis of an existing flight deck instrument for monitoring and controlling the hydraulics subsystem.