Vigilance and Automation Dependence in Operation of Multiple Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): A Simulation Study

Objective: This simulation study investigated factors influencing sustained performance and fatigue during operation of multiple Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The study tested effects of time-on-task and automation reliability on accuracy in surveillance tasks and dependence on automation. It also investigated the role of trait and state individual difference factors. Background: Warm’s resource model of vigilance has been highly influential in human factors, but further tests of its applicability to complex, real-world tasks requiring sustained attention are necessary. Multi-UAS operation differs from standard vigilance paradigms in that the operator must switch attention between multiple subtasks, with support from automation. Method: 131 participants performed surveillance tasks requiring signal discrimination and symbol counting with a multi-UAS simulation configured to impose low cognitive demands, for 2 hr. Automation reliability was manipulated between-groups. Five Factor Model personality traits were measured prior to performance. Subjective states were assessed with the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire. Results: Performance accuracy on the more demanding surveillance task showed a vigilance decrement, especially when automation reliability was low. Dependence on automation on this task declined over time. State but not trait factors predicted performance. High distress was associated with poorer performance in more demanding task conditions. Conclusions: Vigilance decrement may be an operational issue for multi-UAS surveillance missions. Warm’s resource theory may require modification to incorporate changes in information processing and task strategy associated with multitasking in low-workload, fatiguing environments. Application: Interface design and operator evaluation for multi-UAS operations should address issues including motivation, stress, and sustaining attention to automation.

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Improving Human Ground Control Performance in Unmanned Aerial Systems

Future Internet ◽

10.3390/fi13080188 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 188

Author(s):

Marianna Di Gregorio ◽

Marco Romano ◽

Monica Sebillo ◽

Giuliana Vitiello ◽

Angela Vozella

Keyword(s):

Situation Awareness ◽

Interface Design ◽

Human Machine Interface ◽

Ground Control ◽

Entire Group ◽

Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽

Ground Control Station ◽

Machine Interface ◽

Team Situation Awareness ◽

Aerial Systems

The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems, commonly called drones, is growing enormously today. Applications that can benefit from the use of fleets of drones and a related human–machine interface are emerging to ensure better performance and reliability. In particular, a fleet of drones can become a valuable tool for monitoring a wide area and transmitting relevant information to the ground control station. We present a human–machine interface for a Ground Control Station used to remotely operate a fleet of drones, in a collaborative setting, by a team of multiple operators. In such a collaborative setting, a major interface design challenge has been to maximize the Team Situation Awareness, shifting the focus from the individual operator to the entire group decision-makers. We were especially interested in testing the hypothesis that shared displays may improve the team situation awareness and hence the overall performance. The experimental study we present shows that there is no difference in performance between shared and non-shared displays. However, in trials when unexpected events occurred, teams using shared displays-maintained good performance whereas in teams using non-shared displays performance reduced. In particular, in case of unexpected situations, operators are able to safely bring more drones home, maintaining a higher level of team situational awareness.

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Metacognition, Hardiness, and Grit as Resilience Factors in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operations: A Simulation Study

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00640 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Gerald Matthews ◽

April Rose Panganiban ◽

Adrian Wells ◽

Ryan W. Wohleber ◽

Lauren E. Reinerman-Jones

Keyword(s):

Simulation Study ◽

Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽

Resilience Factors ◽

Aerial Systems

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Drones Delivering Automated External Defibrillators—Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems into the Chain of Survival: A Simulation Study in Rural Germany

Resuscitation ◽

10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.12.025 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mina Carolina Baumgarten ◽

Johann Röper ◽

Klaus Hahnenkamp ◽

Karl-Christian Thies

Keyword(s):

Simulation Study ◽

Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽

Automated External Defibrillators ◽

Chain Of Survival ◽

Aerial Systems

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Social Desirability in Personality Inventories

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000138 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 144-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Martin Bäckström ◽

Fredrik Björklund

Keyword(s):

Social Desirability ◽

Big Five ◽

Work Performance ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Peer Ratings ◽

Personality Inventories ◽

Model Study ◽

The Difference ◽

New Variables

The difference between evaluatively loaded and evaluatively neutralized five-factor inventory items was used to create new variables, one for each factor in the five-factor model. Study 1 showed that these variables can be represented in terms of a general evaluative factor which is related to social desirability measures and indicated that the factor may equally well be represented as separate from the Big Five as superordinate to them. Study 2 revealed an evaluative factor in self-ratings and peer ratings of the Big Five, but the evaluative factor in self-reports did not correlate with such a factor in ratings by peers. In Study 3 the evaluative factor contributed above the Big Five in predicting work performance, indicating a substance component. The results are discussed in relation to measurement issues and self-serving biases.

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Construction and Validation of a Short Adjectives Checklist to Measure Big Five (SACBIF)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.12.1.33 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 33-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Marco Perugini ◽

Luigi Leone

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Big Five ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Selection Procedure ◽

Factorial Structure ◽

Personality Dimensions

The aim of this contribution is to present a new short adjective-based measure of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality, the Short Adjectives Checklist of BIg Five (SACBIF). We present the various steps of the construction and the validation of this instrument. First, 50 adjectives were selected with a selection procedure, the “Lining Up Technique” (LUT), specifically used to identify the best factorial markers of the FFM. Then, the factorial structure and the psychometric properties of the SACBIF were investigated. Finally, the SACBIF factorial structure was correlated with some main measures of the FFM to establish its construct validity and with some other personality dimensions to investigate how well these dimensions could be represented in the SACBIF factorial space.

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Factorial Invariance of Child Self-Report Across English and Spanish Language Groups in a Hispanic Population Utilizing the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000026 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 194-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Daniel A. Newman ◽

Christine A. Limbers ◽

James W. Varni

Keyword(s):

Health Care Services ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Well Being ◽

Factorial Invariance ◽

Spanish Language ◽

Self Report ◽

Hispanic Population ◽

Language Groups ◽

Related Quality

The measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children has witnessed significant international growth over the past decade in an effort to improve pediatric health and well-being, and to determine the value of health-care services. In order to compare international HRQOL research findings across language groups, it is important to demonstrate factorial invariance, i.e., that the items have an equivalent meaning across the language groups studied. This study examined the factorial invariance of child self-reported HRQOL across English- and Spanish-language groups in a Hispanic population of 2,899 children ages 8–18 utilizing the 23-item PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed specifying a five-factor model across language groups. The findings support an equivalent 5-factor structure across English- and Spanish-language groups. Based on these data, it can be concluded that children across the two languages studied interpreted the instrument in a similar manner. The multigroup CFA statistical methods utilized in the present study have important implications for cross-cultural assessment research in children in which different language groups are compared.

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