Individual Differences in Concurrent Performance of Military and Robotics Tasks with Tactile Cueing

Abstract

We simulated a military tank environment and examined the performance of the combined position of gunner and robotics operator and how aided target recognition (AiTR) capabilities (delivered either through tactile or tactile + visual cueing) for the gunnery task might benefit the concurrent robotics and communication tasks. Specifically, we investigated whether performance was affected by individual differences factors such as spatial ability and perceived attentional control. Results showed that participants' robotics and communication tasks both improved significantly when the AiTR was available to assist them with their gunnery task. The participants' spatial ability was found to be a good indicator of their gunnery and robotics task performance. However, when AiTR was available to assist their gunnery task, those participants of lower spatial ability were able to perform their robotics tasks as well as those of higher spatial ability. There was also evidence that operators' preference of cueing modality was related to their spatial ability and attentional control.