UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF MIXED REALITY HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAYS ON COGNITIVE WORKLOAD IN NAVAL AVIATION
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Authors
Cecil, Thomas A., II
Subjects
Department of the Navy
DON
mixed reality
MR
head-mounted displays
HMDs
video see-through
VST
pilot
cognitive workload
multiple-attribute task battery
MATB
DON
mixed reality
MR
head-mounted displays
HMDs
video see-through
VST
pilot
cognitive workload
multiple-attribute task battery
MATB
Advisors
McDowell, Perry L.
Rowan, Charles P.
Date of Issue
2024-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Department of the Navy envisions distributed, low-cost simulators as essential for its future aviation plans. Mixed reality (MR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) utilizing video see-through (VST) technology are critical enablers towards achieving this requirement. MR HMDs present virtual environment visuals mere centimeters from the pilot’s eyes. This display method negates aspects of natural human depth perception and reduces the user’s attentional resources. This thesis investigated the impacts on an operator’s cognitive workload by assessing different display methods while participants completed a multiple-attribute task battery (MATB) that required them to perform flight-related tasks. Thirty-four participants enrolled in the laboratory study. Multiple statistical methods indicate significant effects of the display methods on a user's cognitive workload. Higher participant subjective workload ratings and reduced MATB subtask performances when using MR HMDs compared to legacy displays characterize the identified effects. These findings suggest the necessity to emphasize the varying workloads of different display types by acknowledging MR flight simulators as a distinct training platform in future revisions of naval aviation training manuals and directives. Additional revisions should seek to educate the key stakeholders. Specific recommendations and areas for future work investigating the effects of different MR HMDs in flight training are discussed.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Computer Science (CS)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Navy Modeling and Simulation Office
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.