Cross-Task Cue Utilization in Remote Piloted Operations

Abstract

This study was designed to examine whether cross-task cue utilization distinguishes performance during initial Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV) operations. RPV operators, such as remote pilots and sensor/payload operators, are required to contend with a limited range of sensory cues for operating the vehicle compared to conventional aviation. After completing familiarization training on a high-fidelity RPV simulator designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, 60 participants completed four, 10-minute target detection tasks in the role of both the remote pilot and sensor operator. Participants with a greater generalized capacity to recognize and respond to cues demonstrated shorter initial target acquisition times, higher levels of payload work efficiency, and reported lower levels of cognitive load for some tasks. The results suggested that a generalized propensity to use cues provided an incremental performance advantage in specific types of naturalistic visual search and target detection tasks controlling statistically for spatial aptitude, working memory capacity and video game experience.

Keywords: Cognitive Load, cue utilization, situational assessment, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems