Airbus-Hensoldt-UoN Tech Report 2018-1: Cognitive workload and analysis of flight path data

Cognitive workload is of critical importance when operating sophisticated systems. In helicopters, pilots need to be able to process information from their avionics systems and from the external the environment, to fly certain flight paths and to ultimately complete the mission and return safely. When an individual is under high cognitive workload, they are more likely to make errors, or show a lower performance in the tasks they are performing (Kahneman, 1973). This is a critical issue, as flight conditions such as night, low altitude, or brownout may prove critical to the success of certain operations, yet may also impair processing by increasing cognitive workload. Hensoldt™ in co-operation with Airbus™ have developed a unique solution in a symbology system - which feeds sensor driven information directly to the pilot’s visor – which may reduce cognitive workload in difficult flight conditions. Two reports outline a study that assessed the effectiveness of the symbology system. This report (2018-2) focuses on measurement of cognitive workload and residual capacity via the detection response task.