Tactile cueing effects on performance in simulated aerial combat with high acceleration

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Aerospace Engineering
• Human Factors

Background:

• Vibrotactile displays may mitigate sensory and cognitive overload in high-performance aircraft.
• Pilot perception and interpretation of vibratory stimuli under high G-loads require validation before implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of vibrotactile displays for pilots operating under high G-force conditions.
• To evaluate the impact of tactile cueing on pilot performance and situational awareness.

Main Methods:

• Nine pilots participated in simulated aerial combat missions using the Swedish Dynamic Flight Simulator.
• Tactile torso display information was presented in conjunction with standard visual displays for target interception.
• Performance metrics and subjective pilot ratings were collected to assess display utility.

Main Results:

• Pilots experienced G-loads exceeding +8 Gz.
• Tactile cueing significantly reduced mean reaction time (1458 ms to 1245 ms) and total chase time for rear threats (13 s to 12 s).
• Pilots reported enhanced ease of threat detection and improved clarity of threat location with the tactile display.

Conclusions:

• This research demonstrates that tactile display information is perceivable and beneficial for pilots in hypergravity environments (up to +9 Gz).
• Tactile displays enhance threat attention and awareness, particularly for threats appearing behind the aircraft, even alongside advanced visual systems.
• Further benefits are anticipated with dedicated pilot training and in scenarios involving unexpected threat emergence.