Citation

Jennings S, Craig G, Carignan S, Ellis K, Qinetiq DT. Proc. Hum. Factors Ergon. Soc. Annu. Meet. 2005; 49(1): 64-67.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/154193120504900115

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes an investigation of a workload measurement technique based on pilot control movements. The Dynamic Interface Modeling and Simulation System Product Metric (DIMSS PM) assumes that pilot control activity can be used to evaluate pilot workload. Three qualified test pilots flew the fly-bywire NRC Bell 205 helicopter in a short test program that compared the DIMSS PM with subjective workload ratings and handling qualities ratings. The pilots performed a variation of an ADS-33E bob-up with varying levels of simulated turbulence and modified cyclic control characteristics. Good agreement was found for most in-flight test conditions between DIMSS Workload Metric scores and subjective workload ratings from the Bedford Workload Scale and Cooper-Harper handling qualities ratings. While, the DIMSS Workload Metric did not accurately reflect workload increases due to variations in the cyclic stick characteristics, the metric shows promise as an objective measurement tool of pilot workload in well-defined tests.

Language: en