Assessing the Effects of Multimodal Communications on Mental Workload During the Supervision of Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Human supervisory control (HSC) systems that require intermittent human input of commands to create actions within the system are helpful in reducing the human's mental workload (MWL). HSC systems are commonly employed in the piloting and control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As the ratio of UAVs to operators increases there is a clear need to understand the effort required to complete task requirements. Specifically, this research explored MWL relative to multi-modal communications using subjective and physiological measures. To accomplish this, a cognitive model was developed to understand the relationship between tasks and MWL. MWL was manipulated by measuring three in-flight variables: increased communication tasks, task interruptions, and a combination of these two variables. Results showed that task interruptions have the greatest influence on MWL suggesting that reducing the tasks complexity rather than number of UAVs, would be more effective in reducing operator workload.
Authors: Sharon Bommer, Mary Fendley
Institution: Wright State University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Air Force Research Laboratory
OpenAlex ID: W2017376121