Dynamic cognitive workload assessment of pilots using multimodal physiological signal analysis

Abstract

Fighter pilot workload requires stringent attention, awareness, newlinesensible decision-making and action during maneuvering, maintaining newlinecommunication and handling weapons. The multidimensional nature of pilot newlineworkload such as challenges in visual, auditory and precise weapon handling newlinein combat scenarios in addition to their routine maneuvering task, the certainty newlineof life/equipment damage or loss in an error intolerance environment newlinenecessitates assessing pilot s cognitive workload in a dynamic workload newlineenvironment. The objective of the research is to evaluate Pilot s Cognitive newlineWork Load (PCWL) in a dynamic workload environment using high-fidelity newlineflight simulator environment using multi modal signal analysis. newlineThis study is designed to acquire and analyse the multi modal newlineperformance parameters such as 1. Physiological measures (cardiac and newlinecognitive parameters), 2. Subjective measures (NASA-TLX), 3. Objective newlinemeasures (performance score during induced Secondary Cognitive Task newline(SCT)) from the pilots. The parameters are recorded in the high-fidelity fighter newlineaircraft simulator environment under varying work load conditions such as 1. newlineNormal Visibility [Normal WorkLoad condition (NWL)], 2. Low Visibility newline[Moderate Workload condition (MWL)], 3. Normal Visibility with Secondary newlineCognitive Task (SCT) loading [High WorkLoad (HWL)] and 4. Low Visibility newlinewith SCT [Very High WorkLoad (VHWL) conditions]. newlineThe subjective analysis for evaluating pilot s performance was done newlineby asking the pilots to fill NASA-TLX questionnaire and its components of newlinescore such as mental demand (MD), temporal demand (TD), physical demand newline(PD), Frustration (FE), Effort (EF) and Performance (PE) are analyzed and its newlinestatistical significance was found. The results show an increased workload newlineduring higher WL when compared to normal flying. To analyze the reserve newlinecapacity of pilots a cognitive distraction (secondary task) was imposed which newlineresulted in more workload for the pilot. newline