The impact of conflicting spatial representations in airborne unmanned aerial system sensor control
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to extend the basic research findings on spatial representations to a unique application area and extend the small number of applied research studies in this general area to a more robust, Navy-specific application set (i.e., Unmanned Aerial Systems). In this study, participants assumed the role of a sensor operator for an unmanned aerial system (UAS) simulation while riding in the fuselage of an airborne Lockheed P-3 Orion. The P-3 flew a flight profile of intermittent ascending, descending, and turning profiles (in strict accordance with an emphasis on safety of flight) to induce a maximum level of spatial discordance to the sensor operator screen where the participant tracked simulated targets. Participants also performed trials on the ground with the laptop-based UAS sensor operator simulation to establish baseline performance. In a counterbalanced design, the participants performed trials while airborne and on the ground. The multiple frames of reference for the participant induced spatial discordance and an overall decrease in tracking performance compared to trials during straight and level flight and ground baseline trials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1009801
Entities
People
- Caroline Davy
- Christine Zernickow
- James Patrey
- Joseph Geeseman
- Katherine Perditto