Studies of tracking behavior; rate and time characteristics of simple corrective movements.

As a result of increasing complexity in mechanisms of control, attention has been directed towards certain aspects of motor skill which are found to be of particular importance in the design of machines for human operation. A typical function is that of tracking, in which the operator is required to maintain alignment continuously between an indicator and some moving object or point, as in training a telescope, controlling an airplane, or driving an automobile. The present experiments were undertaken to study the rate and time patterns which occur when an S is required to make corrective movements in response to suddenly presented error-displacements. For exploratory purposes, an experimental method is employed similar to that which the engineer uses to study the output error of mechanical transmission systems in response to step input functions.