Effet de l’encombrement visuel de l’écran primaire de vol sur la performance du pilote, la charge de travail et le parcours visuel

RÉSUMÉ : Le poste de pilotage d’un avion de ligne du XXIe siècle ne ressemble pas à celui que les frères Wright ont occupé lors de leur premier vol. En effet, la croissance accélérée de l’aviation civile a entrainé une augmentation et une complexification des instruments de vol du poste de pilotage afin de compléter le vol en toute sécurité et dans les temps prévus. Or, présenter au pilote une abondance d’information visuelle par l’entremise d’instruments de vol visuellement encombrés risque de diminuer sa performance de vol. La thématique de l’encombrement visuel des écrans a reçu un intérêt croissant de la communauté aéronautique qui cherche à connaître les effets de la densité et de la surcharge d’information sur le travail des pilotes. La réglementation aérienne demande de minimiser l’encombrement visuel des écrans du poste de pilotage. Les études précédentes sur le sujet ont trouvé un effet mixte de l’encombrement visuel de l’écran primaire de vol sur la performance technique de vol des pilotes. D’autres recherches s’avéraient donc nécessaire pour mieux comprendre ce phénomène. Dans cette thèse, nous avons réalisé une étude expérimentale dans un simulateur de vol afin d’étudier les effets de l’encombrement visuel de l’écran primaire de vol sur la performance du pilote, sa charge mentale de travail et son parcours visuel. Tout d’abord, nous avons identifié une lacune dans les définitions existantes de l’encombrement visuel d’un affichage et nous avons proposé une nouvelle définition pertinente pour le milieu aéronautique qui tient compte du contexte d’utilisation de l’affichage. Ensuite, nous avons montré que les études précédentes sur l’effet de l’encombrement visuel de l’écran primaire de vol sur la performance des pilotes ont mal isolé la variable d’encombrement visuel en manipulant celle-ci en même temps que la fonction de guidage de l’appareil. L’utilisation d’une fonction de guidage différente entre les affichages peut avoir masquée l’effet de l’encombrement visuel sur la performance du pilote. Pour résoudre ce problème, nous avons proposé trois exigences que tous les affichages à l’étude doivent satisfaire afin d’assurer que seule la variable d’encombrement visuelle est manipulée durant l’étude en laissant intouchées les autres variables. Ensuite, nous avons conçu trois écrans primaires de vol ayant un niveau d’encombrement visuel différent (faible, modéré, élevé) mais la même fonction de guidage, en respectant les exigences mentionnées ci-dessus. Douze pilotes, comptant en moyenne plus de 4000 heures de vol, ont complété une approche aux instruments dans un simulateur de vol en utilisant chacun des écrans pour un total de neuf répétitions. Les principaux résultats montrent que les pilotes ont rapporté un niveau de charge mentale de travail inférieure et ont obtenu une meilleure précision latérale durant l’approche en utilisant l’écran ayant un niveau modéré d’encombrement visuel comparativement aux écrans ayant un niveau faible et un niveau élevé d’encombrement visuel. Les pilotes ont aussi jugé que l’écran modérément encombré a été le plus utile pour la tâche de vol comparativement aux deux autres écrans. Les résultats d’oculométrie montrent que l’efficience du parcours visuel du pilote a diminué pour l’écran ayant un encombrement élevé comparativement aux écrans ayant un encombrement faible et un encombrement modéré. Globalement, ces nouveaux résultats expérimentaux révèlent la pertinence d’optimiser l’encombrement visuel des affichages de vol, car il affecte la performance objective et subjective de pilotes expérimentés dans la tâche de vol. La thèse se conclut avec des recommandations pratiques visant à permettre aux concepteurs d’optimiser l’encombrement visuel des écrans dans les interfaces humain-machine.----------ABSTRACT : Flight deck of 21st century commercial aircrafts does not look like the one the Wright brothers used for their first flight. The rapid growth of civilian aviation resulted in an increase in the number of flight deck instruments and of their complexity, in order to complete a safe and on- time flight. However, presenting an abundance of visual information using visually cluttered flight instruments might reduce the pilot’s flight performance. Visual clutter has received an increased interest by the aerospace community to understand the effects of visual density and information overload on pilots’ performance. Aerospace regulations demand to minimize visual clutter of flight deck displays. Past studies found a mixed effect of visual clutter of the primary flight display on pilots’ technical flight performance. More research is needed to better understand this subject. In this thesis, we did an experimental study in a flight simulator to test the effects of visual clutter of the primary flight display on the pilot’s technical flight performance, mental workload and gaze pattern. First, we identified a gap in existing definitions of visual clutter and we proposed a new definition relevant to the aerospace community that takes into account the context of use of the display. Then, we showed that past research on the effects of visual clutter of the primary flight display on pilots’ performance did not manipulate the variable of visual clutter in a similar manner. Past research changed visual clutter at the same time than the flight guidance function. Using a different flight guidance function between displays might have masked the effect of visual clutter on pilots’ performance. To solve this issue, we proposed three requirements that all tested displays must satisfy to assure that only the variable of visual clutter is changed during study while leaving other variables unaffected. Then, we designed three primary flight displays with a different visual clutter level (low, medium, high) but with the same flight guidance function, by respecting the previous requirements. Twelve pilots, with a mean experience of over 4000 total flight hours, completed an instrument landing in a flight simulator using all three displays for a total of nine repetitions. Our results showed that pilots reported lower workload level and had better lateral precision during the approach using the medium-clutter display compared to the low- and high-clutter displays. Also, pilots reported that the medium-clutter display was the most useful for the flight task compared to the two other displays. Eye tracker results showed that pilots’ gaze pattern was less efficient for the high-clutter display compared to the low- and medium-clutter displays. Overall, these new experimental results emphasize the importance of optimizing visual clutter of flight displays as it affects both objective and subjective performance of experienced pilots in their flying task. This thesis ends with practical recommendations to help designers optimize visual clutter of displays used for man-machine interface

Mechanical device or touchscreen widget: the effects of input device and task size on data entry on the primary flight display

ABSTRACT: Due to their customizability, touchscreens continue to advance as a device of choice when designing aircraft cockpits. Previous studies investigated the effect of turbulence on human performance when using touchscreens, but few have evaluated its performance for realistic aviation-specific tasks. In this study, we compared four touchscreen widgets and three mechanical devices during realistic data input on a primary flight display (PFD). Twenty participants took part in the experiment at a constant level of vibration, while simultaneously completing a secondary tracking task. Results indicated that virtual keypads lead to faster completion time for medium to large changes while keeping error rates low. Rotary knobs were fastest for small changes. Virtual keypads also had lower workload and discomfort compared to rotary knobs and drag-based widgets. We found the completion time to be the most important factor in tracking task performance, which translated in higher precision for keypads. These findings suggest that virtual keypads represent an efficient and secure option for numerical data input at low-to-medium vibration

Exploitation des données prévisionnelles en aviation: une approche en ergonomie prospective

Cet article apporte un recensement de données prospectives qui permet d’avoir un aperçu de l’état présent et anticipé de trafic aérien (passagers et cargos) et personnels en aviation. Ce recensement identifie quatre organisations internationales (ACI, ATAG, OACI et IATA), une organisation de formation (CAE), un fabricant d'avions (Boeing) et deux entreprises d’analyse de données en aviation (CAPA et Cirium). Les données pointent vers une reprise graduelle de l'aviation d’ici 5 ans pour atteindre le niveau de 2019 et vers une augmentation du volume d’activités à long terme. Cette prospection nous permet donc d’anticiper des besoins à découvrir et à satisfaire en aviation dans les prochaines années. Étant donné la hausse de trafic aérien anticipée, il y aura un besoin futur de personnels compétents pour maintenir l’industrie et sa croissance. Ainsi, il y a un besoin d’interventions ergonomiques pour la création d’artefacts pour recruter, garder, former et certifier des personnels compétents présents et futurs

Current Practices for Preventive Maintenance and Expectations for Predictive Maintenance in East-Canadian Mines

ABSTRACT: Preventive maintenance practices have been proven to reduce maintenance costs in many industries. In the mining industry, preventive maintenance is the main form of maintenance, especially for mobile equipment. With the increase of sensor data and the installation of wireless infrastructure within underground mines, predictive maintenance practices are beginning to be applied to the mining equipment maintenance process. However, for the transition from preventive to predictive maintenance to succeed, researchers must first understand the maintenance process implemented in mines. In this paper, we conducted interviews with 15 maintenance experts from 7 mining sites (6 gold, 1 diamond) across East-Canada to investigate the maintenance planning process currently implemented in Canadian mines. We documented experts’ feedback on the process, their expectations regarding the introduction of predictive maintenance in mining, and the usability of existing computerized maintenance management software (CMMS). From our results, we compiled a summary of actual maintenance practices and showed how they differ from theoretical practices. Finally, we list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relevant for maintenance planning and user requirements to improve the usability of CMMS

Goal-Directed Task Analysis for Situation Awareness Requirements During Ship Docking in Compulsory Pilotage Area

In this paper we present the results from a Goal Directed Task Anal-ysis (GDTA), a variant of cognitive task analysis techniques, to extract the op-erator’s situation awareness requirements. This analysis is done with 8 pilots from the Mid Saint-Laurence Pilots Corporation (CPSLC) on a ship docking scenario in a compulsory pilotage area. These findings are used to develop a tool to measure the pilot’s situation awareness during the maneuver using SAGAT questionnaire

Exploiting Forward-Looking Data in Prospective Ergonomics: The Case of Aviation

n this study, we investigated different sources of forward-looking data in the domain of aviation and pilot training that are of interest to human factors researchers and practitioners involved in the creation of future artefacts. We show how trends that are emerging for the future as well as unforeseen short-term events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, impact decisions made on the design of future artefacts in aviation. In this respect, the case of anticipating pilot shortage is examined in relation with the design of a new form of training program: evidence-based training (EBT)

Emotional Maps for User Experience Research in the Wild

While most traditional user experience (UX) evaluation methods (e.g., questionnaires) have made the transition to the “wild”, physiological measurements still strongly rely upon controlled lab settings. As part of an ongoing research agenda, this paper presents a novel approach for UX research which contributes to this transition. The proposed method triangulates GPS and physiological data to create emotional maps, which outline geographical areas where users experienced specific emotional states in outdoor environments. The method is implemented as a small portable recording device, and a data visualization software. A field study was conducted in an amusement park to test the proposed approach. Emotional maps highlighting the areas where users experienced varying levels of arousal are presented. We also discuss insights uncovered, and how UX practitioners could use the approach to bring their own research into the wild

Data representation structure to support clinical decision-making in the pediatric intensive care unit: Interview study and preliminary decision support interface design

ABSTRACT: Background: Clinical decision-making is a complex cognitive process that relies on the interpretation of a large variety of data from different sources and involves the use of knowledge bases and scientific recommendations. The representation of clinical data plays a key role in the speed and efficiency of its interpretation. In addition, the increasing use of clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) provides assistance to clinicians in their practice, allowing them to improve patient outcomes. In the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), clinicians must process high volumes of data and deal with ever-growing workloads. As they use multiple systems daily to assess patients’ status and to adjust the health care plan, including electronic health records (EHR), clinical systems (eg, laboratory, imaging and pharmacy), and connected devices (eg, bedside monitors, mechanical ventilators, intravenous pumps, and syringes), clinicians rely mostly on their judgment and ability to trace relevant data for decision-making. In these circumstances, the lack of optimal data structure and adapted visual representation hinder clinician’s cognitive processes and clinical decision-making skills. Objective: In this study, we designed a prototype to optimize the representation of clinical data collected from existing sources (eg, EHR, clinical systems, and devices) via a structure that supports the integration of a home-developed CDSS in the PICU. This study was based on analyzing end user needs and their clinical workflow. Methods: First, we observed clinical activities in a PICU to secure a better understanding of the workflow in terms of staff tasks and their use of EHR on a typical work shift. Second, we conducted interviews with 11 clinicians from different staff categories (eg, intensivists, fellows, nurses, and nurse practitioners) to compile their needs for decision support. Third, we structured the data to design a prototype that illustrates the proposed representation. We used a brain injury care scenario to validate the relevance of integrated data and the utility of main functionalities in a clinical context. Fourth, we held design meetings with 5 clinicians to present, revise, and adapt the prototype to meet their needs. Results: We created a structure with 3 levels of abstraction—unit level, patient level, and system level—to optimize clinical data representation and display for efficient patient assessment and to provide a flexible platform to host the internally developed CDSS. Subsequently, we designed a preliminary prototype based on this structure. Conclusions: The data representation structure allows prioritizing patients via criticality indicators, assessing their conditions using a personalized dashboard, and monitoring their courses based on the evolution of clinical values. Further research is required to define and model the concepts of criticality, problem recognition, and evolution. Furthermore, feasibility tests will be conducted to ensure user satisfaction

PER4Mance Prototyping environment for research on human-machine interactions for alarm floods management: the case study of a chemical plant process control

ABSTRACT: Alarm floods are dangerous because the quantity of alarms triggered is too numerous for operators to reliably implement the right corrective action. Process operators of complex systems, such as chemical plants or nuclear power production, are faced with alarm management systems that can be better built in consideration of human capabilities and limitations. Developing human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that better support operators is critical for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of critical systems and processes. The research team has developed an accessible and adaptable prototyping environment dedicated for research on alarm management and human-machine interactions in the process industry. The method used was to build on the Tennessee Eastman Process (TEP) simulator and incorporate Human-Machine design guidelines. The results are an open-sourced prototyping environment that incorporates data from a real chemical plant and integrates true alarm data and thresholds. At the end of this article, we share the Github link to the entire MATLAB, Simulink and App Designer files of PER4Mance: a prototyping environment for research on human-machine interactions for alarm flood management

Remote Design of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Dashboard in Time of Pandemics

To support the pediatric intensive care unit with the COVID-19 pandemic, we followed a user-centered design process to create a dashboard in a context where direct access to users was impossible. To this end, we applied contextual inquiry, user interview, requirement definition, iterative design with user validation and usability testing in a remote fashion. Being unable to be physically present at the hospital limited our understanding of the context of use, extended the duration of the study and limited the number of interviews and testing sessions. However, we were able to benefit from the experience of our team members, adopt an efficient decision-making method to select appropriate requirements and use remote moderated usability testing to conform our design process to an aggressive timeline