Measurement of Pilot Workload,
Abstract
Pilot workload may be defined as the cost incurred by the human operators of complex airborne systems in accomplishing the operational requirements imposed on them. If all pilots could perform all flight-related activities on time without error, and if they could do so using available hardware, software, and human resources, the concept of workload would have little practical significance. However, they often cannot. Automation has been offered as a solution to an increasing number of workload-related problems in existing systems or predicted for those under development. In addition, there has been an ever-increasing tendency to reduce the number of crewmembers in aircraft cockpits. Again, automatic subsystems are provided to moderate the demands thus placed on the remaining crewmembers. Attempts to completely replace humans by automatic systems have failed, however, because human capabilities, adaptability, and flexibility continue to surpass those of the most advanced and sophisticated systems. To achieve the desired levels of overall system effectiveness, aircraft must be designed that take advantage of the capabilities of the remaining crewmembers and impose acceptable levels of workload. Thus, the concept of workload has received an increasing amount of theoretical attention during the past decade and it has become an important consideration in system design.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADP005642
Entities
People
- Sandra G. Hart
Organizations
- Ames Research Center