Task load and evaluative stress in a multiple UAV control simulation: The protective effect of executive functioning ability
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is increasing worldwide and in the U.S. will include federal and commercial sectors as well as the military.Although a demand for suitable operators is growing, surprisingly, there exist no precise criteria for operator selection of remote piloted aircraft.Due to the transition from operator control of a single UAV to multiple UAVs, factors related to attentional control will be important for pilot selection.The current study examined the potential benefit high executive functioning (EF) played in UAV simulation where high task load and evaluative stress were present.Basic cognitive control elements of EF (i.e., inhibition, switching and the updating and monitoring of working memory) were assessed.Participants (N = 92) were recruited into either an evaluative stress (negative feedback) or control group.Two practice trials were performed prior to the two experimental trials; task load was counterbalanced across participants.State measures were taken at baseline and following each trial using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ).Additionally, workload was assessed after each trial using the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX).The results of the study showed that UAV performance was more sensitive to task related stress compared to evaluative stress.All UAV performance measures showed a decline with high task load except search accuracy.Evaluative stress interacted with task load revealing that individuals receiving negative feedback in the high task load condition did not increase waypoint usage, a compensatory behavior.Evaluative stress effectively increased reported stress seen as increases in distress, negative affect and frustration, measured by the NASA-TLX.The manipulations of stress caused differential responses across the various state and workload measures.Surprisingly performance on the EF tasks was related more strongly to subjective stress than to performance.Specifically, high inhibitory ability, as measured by the Stop-Signal task, seemed to play some part in protecting operators from experiencing negative results of stress such as worry, distress, threat appraisal and feelings of situational uncontrollability.Contrastingly, the Letter Memory task (Updating) showed a positive relationship with these same subjective stress factors.As letter memory scores improve more stress experiences are reported.Though this finding is surprising, it is interpreted as a sign of resource availability for processing one's own stress response.The findings presented are helpful in understanding how the stressors intrinsic to UAV operation impact both subjective stress and performance.Although current findings cannot be generalized to all UAVs, they reveal that caution must be exercised in the implementation of multi-UAV control.Additionally, these findings highlight the benefit of using a metric such as the DSSQ to understand the various forms of operator stress, both task load and evaluative stress.These findings suggest the DSSQ may be useful in understanding how changes in task load, in addition to evaluative stress responses, may arise as UAV job design changes.Lastly, executive functioning, specifically inhibitory ability, may be a key operator trait necessary to preserve mental well-being and protect against stress, although replication of the present findings is required.iii This page intentionally left blank
Author: Panganiban, April Rose
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Subfield: Human Factors and Ergonomics
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2249198785