Preliminary Results of a Study Investigating Aviation Students\u27 Intentions to use Virtual Reality for Flight Training

Educators have incorporated technology into flight training for decades. These devices have increased in complexity since the Link trainers of the early 20th century, resulting in aviation training devices, full flight simulators and other technologies currently used in flight training programs. Acceptance has also increased since developers shifted the design of video games to incorporate educational aspects as is demonstrated by the popularity of computer based training. Recently, educators have developed more immersive simulation technologies for training purposes such as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR, AR, MR). Leveraging these technologies can positively impact learner motivation and skill acquisition especially when used for procedural training in a dynamic environment. Although immersive technologies such as VR are being implemented into aviation training programs, educators do not always consider the factors that influence students to use these technologies. This is an important consideration for educators to understand: Student perspective of technology impacts decisions related to accepting and ultimately using the technology in a learning environment. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and its extensions have been used to study how students accept and use various technologies in the educational environment. VR and related technologies have received little investigation despite the rapid adoption into the classroom. A study is underway to investigate the factors that influence aviation students to use VR for flight training. Preliminary and anticipated results will be presented to further the discussion on implementing VR in the aviation education environment

Implementing Immersive Virtual Reality in an Aviation/Aerospace Teaching and Learning Paradigm

The ubiquity of computing technology has revolutionized the workplace and has also had a significant impact on education. The use of interactive simulations based on virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) has gained wide acceptance and become a prominent mechanism for learning to occur. Interactive simulations may afford unique learning advantages revealed as effective knowledge retention and skill transfer when information is presented using multi-modal sensory approach. The goal of VR is to create an environment that mimics real world complexities; one that offers comparable stimuli in the virtual environment (VE) to elicit cognitive and psychomotor behavior in the learner, similar to those elicited when performing the same function in the live-task environment. To be effective, practitioners must understand the fundamental elements of cognition and knowledge construction. VE designs must be grounded in theoretical learning constructs to accentuate the cognitive learning process. As part of a cooperative research project within the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, we present our research in developing a highly-immersive, state-of-the-art VR laboratory to train students on complex flight aviation and maintenance related tasks. Development for VR applications is underway as a proof of concept test bed. The lab also supports an F/A-18 Hornet VR part-task trainer that simulates the aerial refueling process; a Head Mounted Display (HMD) enhances fidelity and training realism. Spaceflight Operations students regularly utilize a VR experience of the International Space Station (ISS), Mission ISS, to explore spaceflight concepts often reserved for astronauts

Preliminary Results of a Study Investigating Aviation Student’s Intentions to use Virtual Reality for Flight Training

Educators have incorporated technology into flight training for decades. These devices have increased in complexity since the Link trainers of the early 20th century, resulting in aviation training devices, full flight simulators, and other technologies currently used in flight training programs. Acceptance has also increased since developers shifted the design of video games to incorporate educational aspects as is demonstrated by the popularity of computer based training. Recently, educators have developed more immersive simulation technologies for training purposes such as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR, AR, MR). Although immersive technologies such as VR are being implemented into aviation training programs, educators do not always consider the factors that influence students to use these technologies. This is an important consideration for educators to understand: Student perspective of technology impacts decisions related to accepting and ultimately using the technology in a learning environment. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and its extensions have been used to study how students accept and use various technologies in the educational environment. A pilot study was used to validate a survey instrument and measurement model to investigate the factors that influence aviation students to use VR for flight training. Results indicate that the CFA model and survey instrument have adequate reliability and validity for eight of the 10 factors. Two factors are reviewed for inclusion in the final measurement model. The results of the full study are anticipated for publication in the fall of 2020

Reliability analysis of dynamic systems by translating temporal fault trees into Bayesian networks

Classical combinatorial fault trees can be used to assess combinations of failures but are unable to capture sequences of faults, which are important in complex dynamic systems. A number of proposed techniques extend fault tree analysis for dynamic systems. One of such technique, Pandora, introduces temporal gates to capture the sequencing of events and allows qualitative analysis of temporal fault trees. Pandora can be easily integrated in model-based design and analysis techniques. It is, therefore, useful to explore the possible avenues for quantitative analysis of Pandora temporal fault trees, and we identify Bayesian Networks as a possible framework for such analysis. We describe how Pandora fault trees can be translated to Bayesian Networks for dynamic dependability analysis and demonstrate the process on a simplified fuel system model. The conversion facilitates predictive reliability analysis of Pandora fault trees, but also opens the way for post-hoc diagnostic analysis of failures

Interactive Modules for Flight Training: A Review

The use of animation and video, combined with auditory and text components, to teach complex subjects can be beneficial to deepen understanding. A review of the literature was conducted to better understand how interactive learning modules can give flight students tools to enhance the learning process outside of traditional instruction. Instructional theories and educational environments were considered through the lens of designing course content for flight students. Several research questions were asked to guide the course of the research, all focused on how students learn a complex subject matter using interactive material. Guidelines and principles are discussed to ensure the interactive modules are designed to increase germane cognitive load and decrease extraneous cognitive load to benefit the learning processes of the flight students. This report concludes that interactive modules would allow flight students to own their academic experience while positively impacting declarative and procedural knowledge acquisition

Research Recommendations from the Airplane Simulation Transfer Literature

This descriptive review aims to identify research gaps in the airplane, simulation transfer of training literature. The research question is: What are the recommendations for future research from the simulation experiments using a true transfer or a quasi-transfer design to study the near or far transfer of airplane flying knowledge, skills, or abilities among adults? The method involves an exhaustive survey of English-language, peer-reviewed publications available online. The results include eight seminal reviews of the aviation literature published since 1973, 26 empirical studies published since 2004, and four general reviews to situate the aviation literature. The primary transfer studies encompass four themes: training proficiency, motion, abnormal events, and control tasks. This review addresses current research needs by presenting summaries and recommendations from the transfer literature, identifying gaps, and proposing an agenda for future research. It serves to inform researchers, practitioners, manufacturers, and regulators in the field of flight simulation training

Airline Pilot Perceptions of Stress and Self-Reported Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional Study

In the air transportation sector, fatigue is a known problem influencing safety. Over the past two decades, fatigue mitigation has gained increased regulatory emphasis. The psychosocial construct of perceived stress, however, has been less studied and emphasized, though decades of research demonstrates stress’s impact on psychosocial and physiological wellbeing and safety performance. This observational, cross-sectional study measured airline pilots’ perceived stress levels alongside selected fatigue factors. Data was gathered from a sample of 144 airline pilots and analyzed using non-parametric statistics to explore the relationship between pilots’ perceptions of their own stress levels over the previous month with their answers to a questionnaire on fatigue factors. The objective here was both assessment of Cohen’s (1983) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) as a tool for measuring chronic stress among airline pilots, along with classification and juxtaposition of organizational, professional, social and biological fatigue factors that may contribute to chronic stress. This study fills a gap in the literature on reliable, repeatable methodologies for studying chronic occupational stress, and importantly–establishes correlations between two safety-influencing constructs not previously explored side-by-side. Results support the validity of the PSS for subjective assessment of stress among airline pilots, thereby contributing to the body of knowledge on measuring chronic stressors and fatigue factors in the airline industry. This study also highlights the relevance of additional emphasis in this area of study. The implications of qualitatively exploring a relationship between these two related safety-influencing constructs may provide a different angle for future practical solutions and regulatory guidance

Quantification of temporal fault trees based on fuzzy set theory

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014. Fault tree analysis (FTA) has been modified in different ways to make it capable of performing quantitative and qualitative safety analysis with temporal gates, thereby overcoming its limitation in capturing sequential failure behaviour. However, for many systems, it is often very difficult to have exact failure rates of components due to increased complexity of systems, scarcity of necessary statistical data etc. To overcome this problem, this paper presents a methodology based on fuzzy set theory to quantify temporal fault trees. This makes the imprecision in available failure data more explicit and helps to obtain a range of most probable values for the top event probability

Post-aragonite phases of CaCO3_{3} at lower mantle pressures

The stability, structure and properties of carbonate minerals at lower mantle conditions has significant impact on our understanding of the global carbon cycle and the composition of the interior of the Earth. In recent years, there has been significant interest in the behavior of carbonates at lower mantle conditions, specifically in their carbon hybridization, which has relevance for the storage of carbon within the deep mantle. Using high-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell coupled with direct laser heating of CaCO$_{3}$ using a CO$_{2}$ laser, we identify a crystalline phase of the material above 40 GPa $-$ corresponding to a lower mantle depth of around 1,000 km $-$ which has first been predicted by \textit{ab initio} structure predictions. The observed $sp^{2}$ carbon hybridized species at 40 GPa is monoclinic with $P2_{1}/c$ symmetry and is stable up to 50 GPa, above which it transforms into a structure which cannot be indexed by existing known phases. A combination of \textit{ab initio} random structure search (AIRSS) and quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) calculations are used to re-explore the relative phase stabilities of the rich phase diagram of CaCO$_{3}$. Nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations are used to investigate the reaction mechanisms between relevant crystal phases of CaCO$_{3}$ and we postulate that the mineral is capable of undergoing $sp^{2}$-$sp^{3}$ hybridization change purely in the $P2_{1}/c$ structure $-$ forgoing the accepted post-aragonite $Pmmn$ structure.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Simulations for Civilian, Ab Initio Pilot Training

Aviation training in the immersive Virtual Reality (VR) world has the power to overcome physical constraints, presenting cues and stimuli that would not be available in flight, nor in a two-dimensional (2D) environment. This gives VR powerful potential as a simulation tool for learning complex skills and maneuvers in the cockpit. This study evaluated the effectiveness of VR simulations as compared to traditional 2D desktop simulations in teaching maneuvers and skills to ab initio (inexperienced) civilian pilot trainees. This quasi-experimental project involved 17 freshman pilot students in an experimental college course at a private university campus in the fall semester of 2020. The participants were split into two sections: Section 1 completed CBT activities and simulations in 2D only, while Section 2 completed CBT activities in 2D and simulations in VR. Academic performance data was collected in the Canvas Learning Management System, broken down by understanding of a maneuver learned in a given lesson module. Descriptive statistics collected included quizzes, discussion board activity, and simulation completion scores. Paired samples t-tests compared perceived benefits of using the various course materials. Researchers also administered post-semester surveys to gather both qualitative and quantitative data, in which participants shared their perceptions of the course, preference for learning material type, and general feedback. Results indicated that students in both groups found the sims/tutorials and VR to be enjoyable and gratifying; the majority of students indicated that simulations were preferred over other learning materials. Early results indicate that although the students perceived that the simulations were beneficial, there were no significant differences in the final course scores or learning rates between those who utilized 2D sims as opposed to VR sims. The most important finding is that for ab initio pilots, VR simulations do not hinder learning mastery, as compared with traditional 2D desktop simulations