Operator selection for unmanned aerial systems: comparing video game players and pilots

Area of Science:

• Human Factors
• Aerospace Engineering
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Accelerated operations for unmanned aerial system (UAS) platforms like MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper have outpaced operator training, creating a shortage of qualified personnel.
• Traditional pilot training may not fully translate to the unique demands of UAS operation.
• This study investigates alternative candidate pools for UAS operators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cognitive performance of experienced video game players (VGPs) and pilots on tasks relevant to unmanned aerial system (UAS) operation.
• To identify potential surrogate candidates for UAS operation to address operator shortages.
• To compare cognitive skills between VGPs, pilots, and a control group in a UAS context.

Main Methods:

• Thirty participants were divided into three groups: experienced pilots (P), experienced VGPs, and a control group (C).
• All participants received training on eight cognitive performance tasks specifically designed for unmanned flight.
• Performance was assessed across various metrics including multi-attribute tasks, target acquisition/tracking, and landing simulation.

Main Results:

• Pilots significantly outperformed VGPs and controls on multi-attribute cognitive tasks.
• VGPs demonstrated superior performance in visually acquiring, identifying, and tracking targets compared to pilots and controls.
• Both VGPs and pilots performed similarly and better than controls on the UAS landing task.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive skills developed through video game play appear transferable to unmanned aerial system (UAS) tasks.
• Experienced video game players show potential as UAS operators, particularly in areas requiring visual-spatial skills.
• VGPs may offer a viable solution to the shortage of qualified UAS operators.