Tactile versus Aural Redundant Alert Cues for UAV Control Applications

Abstract

In complex UAV control stations, it is important to alert operators to actionable information in a timely manner. Tactile displays may alleviate visual workload by transmitting information through the skin, cueing operators to high priority, unexpected events. The utility of tactile alerts (vibration on wrists) in substitution for aural alerts, as a redundant cue to visual alerts, was examined. Participants responded to critical events alerted with aural or tactile redundant cues, while performing multiple tasks in a simulated UAV control station. Results showed that there were no significant performance differences between the conditions employing unique aural and tactile cues. These data suggest that the non-visual alerts may be equally compelling and the tactile alerts can substitute for aural alerts as a redundant cue to visual cues. Also, there was not a strong indication that tactile alerts were advantageous in a high noise environment. However, subjective comments and trends in the data suggest that tactile alerts may be especially advantageous in noisy task environments requiring long periods of vigilance.