Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential for static upright balance function and brain-blood oxygen parameters to evaluate pilot workload.MethodsPhase 1: The NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was used to compare the workloads of real flights with flight simulator simulated flight tasks in 15 pilots (Cohort 1). Phase 2: To determine the effects of workload, 50 cadets were divided equally into simulated flight task load (experimental) and control groups (Cohort 2). The experimental group underwent 2 h of simulated flight tasks, while the control group rested for 2 h. Their static upright balance function was evaluated using balance index-1 (BI-1), before and after the tasks, with balance system posturography equipment and cerebral blood oxygen parameters monitored with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in real time. Sternberg dual-task and reaction time tests were performed in the experimental and control groups before and after the simulated flight tasks.Results(Phase1) There was a significant correlation between the workload caused by real flight and simulated flight tasks (P<0.01), indicating that NASA-TLX scales were also a tool for measuring workloads of the stimulated flight tasks. (Phase 2) For the simulated flight task experiments, the NASA-TLX total scores were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.001) and (pre-to-post) changes of the BI-1 index were greater in the experimental group than in controls (P<0.001). The cerebral blood oxygen saturation levels (rsO2) (P<0.01) and ΔHb reductions (P<0.05) were significantly higher in the experimental, compared to the control group, during the simulated flight task. In contrast to the control group the error rates (P = 0.002) and accuracy (P<0.001) changed significantly in the experimental group after the simulated flight tasks.ConclusionsThe simulated flight task model could simulate the real flight task load and static balance and NIRS were useful for evaluating pilots’ workload/fatigue.
Highlights
Pilot fatigue, which can have physical or mental causes, is considered an internal risk factor for unsafe acts, because it negatively affects the human operator’s internal state [1, 2]
This study focuses on pilot workload using a continuous task load model and evaluates the potential of static balance and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to evaluate workload and, potentially, fatigue
Physical or mental load can contribute to pilot fatigue, which may result in a slower response, inattention and even mistakes that can lead to accidents [11]
Summary
Pilot fatigue, which can have physical or mental causes, is considered an internal risk factor for unsafe acts, because it negatively affects the human operator’s internal state [1, 2]. A leading cause of pilot fatigue is task workloads caused by sustained cognitive work [3,4,5]. Mental fatigue is a transient decrease in maximal cognitive performance resulting from prolonged periods of cognitive activity [3,4,5, 7]. It can manifest as somnolence, lethargy or loss of directed attention [8,9,10]. Objective methods determine fatigue mainly by measuring changes in body functions, which comprise measurements of physiological, psychological and biochemical indicators, and working performance tests. Some studies indicate that participants cannot accurately estimate their ability to perform their duties, which may result in overconfident and inaccurate judgment [17]
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