Visual Scanning Techniques and Mental Workload of Helicopter Pilots During Simulated Flight

INTRODUCTION: The visual scanning techniques used by helicopter pilots are a critical skill to accomplish safe and correct landing. According to the human information processing theory, visual scanning techniques can be analyzed as a function of fixation location, number, and duration of fixations.METHODS: This study assessed these techniques in expert and novice pilots during an open sea flight simulation in a low-workload condition, consisting of a daylight and good weather simulation, and in a high-workload condition of night-time, low visibility, and adverse weather conditions. Taking part in the study were 12 helicopter pilots. Mental workload was assessed through psychological measures (NASA-TLX). The pilots performance was assessed and eye movements were recorded using an eye-tracker during four phases of the flight simulations.RESULTS: Overall, pilots made more fixations out of the window (OTW; 22.54) than inside the cockpit (ITC; 11.08), Fixations were longer OTW (830.17 ms) than ITC (647.97 ms) and they were shorter in the low-demand condition (626.27 ms). Further, pilots reported higher mental workload (NASA-TLX) in the high-demand condition compared to the low-demand condition, regardless of their expertise, and expert pilots reported a lower mental workload compared to novice pilots.DISCUSSION: Pilots performance and perceived mental workload varied as a function of expertise and flight conditions. Pilots rely on instrument support during the cruise phase and external visual cues during the landing phase. The implications for a new visual landing system design are discussed.Rainieri G, Fraboni F, Russo G, Tul M, Pingitore A, Tessari A, Pietrantoni L. Visual scanning techniques and mental workload of helicopter pilots during simulated flight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(1):1119.

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Workload assessment for mental arithmetic tasks using the task-evoked pupillary response

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1105v2 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Gerhard Marquart ◽

Joost de Winter

Keyword(s):

Mental Arithmetic ◽

Pupil Diameter ◽

Mental Workload ◽

Self Report ◽

Blink Rate ◽

Eye Tracker ◽

Practical Applications ◽

The Mean ◽

Nasa Tlx ◽

Diameter Change

Pupillometry is a promising method for assessing mental workload and could be helpful in the optimization of systems that involve human-computer interaction. The present study focuses on replicating the studies by Ahern (1978) and Klingner (2010), which found that for three levels of difficulty of mental multiplications, the more difficult multiplications yielded larger dilations of the pupil. Using a remote eye tracker, our research expands upon these two previous studies by statistically testing for each 1.5 s interval of the calculation period (1) the mean absolute pupil diameter (MPD), (2) the mean pupil diameter change (MPDC) with respect to the pupil diameter during the pre-stimulus accommodation period, and (3) the mean pupil diameter change rate (MPDCR). An additional novelty of our research is that we compared the pupil diameter measure with a self-report measure of workload, the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and with the mean blink rate (MBR). The results showed that the findings of Ahern and Klingner were replicated, and that the MPD and MPDC discriminated just as well between the lowest and highest difficulty levels as did the NASA-TLX. The MBR, on the other hand, did not interpretably differentiate between the difficulty levels. Moderate to strong correlations were found between the MPDC and the proportion of incorrect responses, indicating that the MPDC was higher for participants with a poorer performance. For practical applications, validity could be improved by combining pupillometry with other physiological techniques.

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Workload assessment for mental arithmetic tasks using the task-evoked pupillary response

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1105 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Gerhard Marquart ◽

Joost de Winter

Keyword(s):

Mental Arithmetic ◽

Pupil Diameter ◽

Mental Workload ◽

Self Report ◽

Blink Rate ◽

Eye Tracker ◽

Practical Applications ◽

The Mean ◽

Nasa Tlx ◽

Diameter Change

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Attention Theory and Training Research

Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193128703100608 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 648-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

James G. Connelly ◽

Christopher D. Wickens ◽

Gavan Lintern ◽

Kelly Harwood

Keyword(s):

Mental Workload ◽

Open Loop ◽

Flight Simulation ◽

Complex Task ◽

Time Sharing ◽

Attention Theory ◽

Stimulus Response ◽

Training Research ◽

Complex Training ◽

The Stability

This study used elements of attention theory as a methodological basis to decompose a complex training task in order to improve training efficiency. The complex task was a microcomputer flight simulation where subjects were required to control the stability of their own helicopter while acquiring and engaging enemy helicopters in a threat environment. Subjects were divided into whole-task, part-task, and part/open loop adaptive task groups in a transfer of training paradigm. The effect of reducing mental workload at the early stages of learning was examined with respect to the degree that subordinate elements of the complex task could be automated through practice of consistent, learnable stimulus-response relationships. Results revealed trends suggesting the benefit of isolating consistently mapped sub-tasks for part-task training and the presence of a time-sharing skill over and above the skill required for the separate subtasks.

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Evaluation of Subjective Mental Workload: A Comparison of SWAT, NASA-TLX, and Workload Profile Methods

Applied Psychology ◽

10.1111/j.1464-0597.2004.00161.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 61-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 325

Author(s):

Susana Rubio ◽

Eva Diaz ◽

Jesus Martin ◽

Jose M. Puente

Keyword(s):

Mental Workload ◽

Nasa Tlx

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The Effects of Practice on Navigation Performance and Mental Workload with a Mirror-In-The-Sky Map

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181321651060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 1546-1550

Author(s):

Holland M. Vasquez ◽

Justin G. Hollands ◽

Greg A. Jamieson

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Secondary Task ◽

Mental Workload ◽

Task Completion ◽

Practice Performance ◽

Global Ratings ◽

Detection Response ◽

Nasa Tlx ◽

Response Task ◽

Completion Times

Some previous research using a new augmented reality map display called Mirror-in-the-Sky (MitS) showed that performance was worse and mental workload (MWL) greater with MitS relative to a track-up map for navigation and wayfinding tasks. The purpose of the current study was to determine—for both MitS and track-up map—how much performance improves and MWL decreases with practice in a simple navigation task. We conducted a three-session experiment in which twenty participants completed a route following task in a virtual environment. Task completion times and collisions decreased, subjective MWL decreased, and secondary task performance improved with practice. The NASA-TLX Global ratings and Detection Response Task Hit Rates showed a larger decrease in MWL with MitS than the track-up map. Additionally, means for performance and workload measures showed that differences between the MitS and track-up map decreased in the first session. In later sessions the differences between the MitS and track-up map were negligible. As such, with practice performance and MWL may be comparable to a traditional track-up map.

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Pengukuran Beban Kerja Mental Job Driver Dan Swamper Team Fuel Menggunakan NASA-TLX

Jurnal Surya Teknika ◽

10.37859/jst.v8i2.3283 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 333-338

Author(s):

Muhammad Qurthuby

Keyword(s):

Work Stress ◽

Work Motivation ◽

Mental Workload ◽

Emotional Reactions ◽

Skill Levels ◽

Physical Demand ◽

Mental Demand ◽

Work Accident ◽

Nasa Tlx ◽

Very High

Giving excessive workloads causes work stress both physically and psychologically and emotional reactions. The excess workload experienced by drivers and swampers at PT XYZ results in reduced attention at work, decreased work motivation, and decreased skill levels, thus affecting drivers and swampers productivity and the chance of a work accident is very high. This study aims to measure the Mental Workload of Job Driver and Swampers Fuel Tank Using the NASA-TLX Method. The NASA-TLX score obtained 93.8, driver 2 get 83.7, driver 3 91.3, swamper 1 91, swamper 2 89.5, and swamper 3 94.7. Elements of mental workload that are very influential are Mental Demand with a percentage of 22%, Effort 20%, Physical Demand 18%, Own Performance 15%, Frustation Level 15% and Temporal Demand 12%.

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ANALYSIS OF MENTAL WORKLOAD WITH INTEGRATING NASA TLX AND FUZZY METHOD

JOURNAL ASRO ◽

10.37875/asro.v9i1.57 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Riono Riono ◽

Suparno Suparno ◽

Adi Bandono

Keyword(s):

Evaluation System ◽

Mental Workload ◽

Work Load ◽

Mental Work ◽

Fuzzy Method ◽

A Value ◽

Factor Evaluation ◽

Nasa Tlx ◽

Territorial Water

ABSTRAK In carrying out its main duty as a guardian of the territorial water sovereignty republic Indonesia, the strength of the Navy is directed as a strategic force developed under the SSAT. The strength of the Navy can be measured by the arsenal and the quality of the personnel who are responsible for it. The performance, quality of personnel is strongly influenced by the work load it receives. Measurement of personnel workload in Indonesian Warship to determine the class of his current position using the Factor Evaluation System (FES) method that is more oriented on the volume of work and work time. While the mental workload has not been accommodated in the measurement of workload using this method. In this research will carry out the measurement of mental workload of Indonesian Warship personnel for each type of work when the Indonesian Warship operates, using the NASA TLX method integrated with the Fuzzy method. The questionnaire data collection was obtained from 82 respondents Indonesian Warship personnel. From the research results obtained data that of 11 (eleven) types of work in Indonesian Warship at the time of operation, Main Engine Operators work is the work that has the highest mental workload with a value of 74.33. While the type of work that most low-level mental work is to electronics Operators with a value of 58.83. Keywords: Workload, NASA TLX, FUZZY Method, FES

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