Workload-matched adaptive automation support of air traffic controller information processing stages

Original publisher: Hampton, VA : National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research Center ; [Springfield, Va. : For sale by the National Technical Information Service, 2002] OCLC Number: (OCoLC)60315698 Excerpt: ... Figure2. Secondagryauge-monitortinagskdisplay. Primary control task. The Multitask simulation presented subjects with a radar scope display and revealed the position of different types of aircraft in a simulated airspace through the scope ( see Figure 3 ). The aircraft were graphically represented by three types of icons ( military, commercial, and private ), which moved at different speeds toward an airport, or home base, at the center of the display ( see Figure 4 ). The speed of each aircraft was dependent on its type. Military vehicles had the highest maximum speed, followed by commercial, and then private aircraft. All aircraft required between 60 and 120 seconds to reach the center of the display after their initial appearance on the radar scope. The participant's task was to locate and " clear " the aircraft for landing before they reached the center of the display or collided with another aircraft. Clearing an aircraft required two steps, including establishing a communication link and issuing a clearance. To establish a communication link, participants had to move a cursor to the location of an aircraft using the mouse, and then press the left mouse button. The aircraft icon then flashed for several seconds, signifying a processing stage. After the icon stopped flashing, the subject had to click on the aircraft again, but with the right mouse button in order to issue a clearance. The aircraft icon flashed again, but this time for a significantly longer period. Once the icon stopped flashing on the second occasion, the clearance had been issued and the aircraft could safely fly to the home base. Clearing each aircraft required at least 30 seconds ( approximately 7 seconds to establish a communications link and 23 seconds to p...