USING MODELING TO PREDICT THE EFFECTS OF AUTOMATION ON MEDEVAC PILOT COGNITIVE WORKLOAD

The Holistic Situational Awareness - Decision Making (HSA-DM) program is researching ways to aid pilots via avionics essential to the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) rotor-wing platform. As pilots manage the new avionics that FVL will bring to the battlefield, automation assistance will be essential. This study’s goal is to determine to what extent automation reduces pilot cognitive workload particularly when performing communication tasks. The quantitative analysis is based on cognitive walkthroughs with active-duty helicopter pilots. Pilot interviews were also conducted to assess how tasks are completed, and more importantly, to ascertain the cognitive workload associated with those tasks. This information is implemented into computer models of a routine helicopter flight to accurately predict pilot workload during a mission. These models also predict which tasks would add the most value to pilots and FVL if automated mission tasks were implemented. The research indicates that by automating communication tasks for the pilot and copilot, workload is reduced to an optimal level. Based on these findings, monitor radio nets, adjust volume, input channel, select channel, and send JVMF messages should be automated. In addition, this analysis establishes a cost-effective, valid, and repeatable framework for future workload studies on automated tasks in FVL.Major, United States Army ReserveMajor, United States ArmyCaptain, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited