Features of the influence of working conditions on psychophysiological functions of unmanned aircraft systems operators

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the influence and assess the impact of specific factors of working conditions on the psychophysiological functions of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operators. The research involved 41 military personnel (men aged 20-35 years old) who operated the I class “Light” UAS and were engaged in a varied range of professional tasks. The aim was to understand the complex impact of these distinct factors on operators during the execution of their duties. To examine their psychophysiological status, we employed modified methods using the PFI-2 hardware/software complex. The following indicators were determined: accuracy of reaction to a moving object, strength of nervous processes, functional mobility of nervous processes, simple visual-motor reaction, complex visual-motor reaction, orientation in space, and visual memory. The role of climatic and microclimatic factors in professional activity was studied using a questionnaire, where their influence on functional status was assessed on a 100-point scale. To facilitate further theoretical development and practical application, we determined the investigated factors integral impact on shaping operators’ subjective perception and specific psychophysiological qualities that are professionally significant for military personnel. The preliminary analysis showed the heterogeneity of feelings the influence of various components of the external environment factor. To correct this heterogeneity, we used the non-linear correction method (logarithmization of analyzed data, when large values of an analyzed parameter could be reduced due to the properties of logarithmic function). Then, a correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient) and regression analysis of studied parameters has been carried out with a preliminary check of the structure of operator perceptions for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. As a result, a list of psychophysiological qualities that change under the influence of the external environment factor in individuals with different perceptivity to its components has been selected.