Assessing Human-Computer Interaction of Operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Attitude (ATTI) Mode

Abstract

The addition of relatively cheap, yet accurate and reliable automated flight controllers, to even the most basic sub 20 kg (KG) RPAS/drone, has revolutionised the use of these systems, and made them widely accessible to the general public. Because of this, drone use covering a wide variety of applications has increased in recent years, and is set to continue to increase at an exponential pace. While drone automation allows novices to easily control and operate their aircraft, it can also however create a false sense of confidence, that the drones can be operated with little or even no training at all! When automation fails, however, drone pilots may find themselves having to control their unmanned/remotely piloted aircraft with greatly reduced technological assistance. This mode of operation is known as Attitude (ATTI) Mode and occurs when the flight control system loses Global Positioning System (GPS) accuracy. Currently, in the UK, drone pilots wishing to operate a platform below 20 kg in weight, need to undergo a practical assessment, which requires the drone to be flown in ATTI Mode. However, there is no clear guidance on what test flight profiles they may be asked to be fly. This creates a situation where drone pilots may be subjected to an extremely wide variance of practical assessments. This research consolidates from UK CAA-approved drone operators the types of flight profiles that they had been asked to demonstrate in ATTI Mode during their practical assessments. From all the profiles reported, the seven most frequently reported flight profiles were further analysed to rank their effectiveness in assessing drone pilots’ flight operation competency. It has been found that some of these flight profiles are not statistically significantly different from one another. Accordingly, it is proposed that assessors may consider selecting flight profiles that are significantly different to be performed during the practical assessment for a drone pilot, so that time and effort will not be wasted, but more importantly, the assessment of the SUA pilots’ competency may become more comprehensive.