Analysis on Eye Movement Indexes Based on Simulated Flight Task

Abstract

To probe pilot’s attention allocation, workload and cognition by eye movement indexes analysis. Six subjects participated the experiment. They were asked to fly three simulation scenarios: landing, climbing and cruise flight. Five eye movement indexes which they were the percentage of fixation point, the percentage of dwell time, average fixation duration, average pupil size and average saccade amplitude were recorded and analyzed. The result indicated that eye movement data was obviously different in out view and instrument panel; also it was different among three tasks. Conclusions can be made from the result: subjects spent most time on outside view while leaving small time to make quick crosschecking to the instrument; Subjects show different pattern of attention allocation through three flight tasks; the recorded eye movement indexes are the good indicators to pilots’ attention allocation, workload and cognition.