Use Future Rotorcraft Human Machine Interface

Modern avionics and sensor systems offer pilots and crew with a wealth of information related to the mission, operation and handling of their aircraft, and threat identification. In this increasingly information rich data environment there is a significant risk that, without an appropriate review of Human Machine Interface (HMI) design needs and requirements, crew might be subjected to cognitive overload resulting in reduced operational effectiveness, poor decision making and potentially leading to loss of airborne assets.

A pilot-centric approach to the design, transmission and interpretation of information in the cockpit is needed to reduce pilot workload in complex environments, ensuring the transparency of and reducing the risk of loss of operational capability. The aim of this research project is to develop a methodology to investigate subjective and objective measures of pilot workload in complex operations and develop HMI guidelines for transmitting essential information to pilots/crew in high workload situations.

The project will begin with a 'traditional' literature review to determine the state of the art in helicopter operations, training effectiveness in virtual environments and HMI design for complex datasets. In this activity, the researcher will require access to military personnel who operate and provide training for current rotorcraft to obtain an overview of the best practise currently employed and identify future requirements. The output from this activity will be a report on key findings and the identification of the research questions that will be pursued in this project. This activity will also lead to the development of operational scenarios that will be used in the research.

The use of modelling and flight simulation in addressing the research challenges will be a key part of the work. Advances in VR and AR technology offer new tools for conducting research and also have the potential to change the manner in which training is delivered. A number of simulation components will need to be brought together during this phase of activity to develop a technology 'sandpit' to investigate the identified research topics. The focus of this activity will be the development of a simulation framework that can be used to investigate training and operational needs and will inform the development of new HMI guidelines for piloted operations. It will determine which modalities are best suited for conveying complex and remote information to aircrew. Existing and emerging simulation technologies will be examined in this work to produce a capability matrix for use in this project and beyond.

A significant challenge in the project will be the detection and mitigation of pilot cognitive overload and reduced situational awareness. This will require the development of simulation fidelity and training metrics and methodologies that are training and operationally focussed. Initial simulation trials will be carried out, using the simulation tools developed in the previous phase of the research, to examine the effect of immersion and fidelity on operational decision-making processes. Additional research is required to identify robust behavioural and physiological markers, e.g. eye blink rate, gaze patterning, pulse rate, that can be used to examine pilot workload. Following this, the candidate HMI systems will be tested in the simulation environment to assess their operational robustness, i.e. the ability to allow the aircrew to maintain situational awareness of their vehicle. The proposed research offers the opportunity to make a step change in the way emerging and future operational requirements are assessed and satisfied. It has the potential of reducing the costs and risks associated with integrating new platforms with existing assets and will enable a more rapid of new technologies.