FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-12/4

Title and Subtitle: An Investigation of Sensory Information, Levels of Automation, and Piloting Experience on Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Performance

Report Date: March 2012

Authors: Williams KW

Abstract: The current experiment was intended to examine the effect of sensory information on pilot reactions to system failures within a UAS control station simulation. This research also investigated the level of automation used in controlling the aircraft and the level of manned flight experience of the participants, since these also have been shown to influence pilot effectiveness.

While the presence of sound did improve responses to engine failures, it did not improve responses to failures in heading control. The prediction that higher levels of automation would lead to complacency or vigilance decrements was not supported. The finding that pilots, in the manual conditions, flew significantly closer to the flight path than non-pilots was unexpected.

The results suggest differences between those with manned aircraft experience and those without, but it is unclear whether these differences are due to manned aircraft training and flight experience or whether other factors, such as personality, may be evident.

Key Words: Unmanned Aircraft Systems, UAS, UAV Levels of Automation, Sensory Information, Alerts and Warnings, Piloting Experience

No. of Pages: 21