Can 3-D Auditory Warnings Enhance Helicopter Cockpit Safety?

Abstract

The design and use of 3-D auditory warning signals can potentially enhance helicopter cockpit safety. A study was conducted to determine how quickly helicopter pilots could respond to helicopter malfunction warning signals in a simulated cockpit environment when four different signal functions (fire in left engine, fire in right engine, chips in transmission, shaft-driven compressor failure) were presented in three different presentation modes (visual only, visual plus 3-D auditory speech signals, visual plus 3-D auditory icons). The dependent variable was pilot response time to the warning signal, from the time of signal onset to the time that the pilot manipulated the collective control in the correct manner. Subjects were 12 U.S. Army pilots between the ages of 18 and 35 who possessed hearing and visual acuity within thresholds acceptable to the U.S. Army. Results indicated that signal presentation was the only significant effect. Signal function and the signal presentation x signal function interaction were not significant. Post hoc test results indicated that pilot response time to the visual signals supplemented with 3-D audio speech or auditory icon signals was significantly shorter than that to visual signals only. The data imply that 3-D audio speech and auditory icon signals provide a safe and effective mode of warning presentation in the helicopter cockpit.