Manpower, Skill and Fatigue Analysis of Future Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Environments

Abstract

Recent military operations conducted by the U.S. have brought to light several human factors challenges in regard to the control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The purpose of this research was to examine the crew environment and soldier performance issues related to future UAV systems. Multiple studies were conducted using a variety of human engineering tools to address UAV crew issues related to: 1) the utility of having rated aviators as crewmembers, 2) supplementing current crews with imagery and intelligence specialists, 3) the use of automation to improve systems efficiency, and 4) the effects of crew size, rotation schedule, and fatigue on crewmember performance. No evidence was found to support a requirement for rated aviators in future Army missions. However, the use of cognitively oriented embedded training simulators was suggested to aid novices in developing the cognitive skills exhibited by experts. The effectiveness of adding imagery specialists to crews is discussed, as well as specific recommendations related to automation and crew size derived from simulation modeling.