Abstract
This chapter presents a unified agent‐based design framework and methodologies to guide operator interface design for complex human‐machine systems (HMSs) (e.g. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control station). It discusses the evolution of interface technologies and describes the concepts and associated conceptual framework of intelligent adaptive interfaces (IAIs), while defining relevant nomenclature to minimize cross‐discipline term confusion. The chapter introduces the concept of adaptive intelligent agents (AIAs) and an operator agent interaction model to guide IAI system design by understanding the differences among human‐human, human‐machine, and operator agent interactions. It describes a hierarchical IAI system architecture with different levels of AIAs to facilitate operator agent interactions. The chapter introduces currently available theoretical approaches and the requirements for designing an IAI, a generic IAI conceptual framework, and associated methodologies that guide interface design and design verification.