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Multidimensional measure of display clutter and pilot performance for advanced head-up display
Sang-Hwan Kim1, Lawrence J Prinzel, David B Kaber
1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7906, USA.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|November 22, 2011
Summary
This study developed a measure for head-up display (HUD) clutter, finding that extreme clutter levels negatively impact pilot workload and flight performance. The developed models link display properties to clutter and performance.
Area of Science:
- Human Factors Engineering
- Aviation Psychology
- Display Technology
Background:
- Advanced head-up displays (HUDs) with enhanced and synthetic vision present challenges in managing display clutter.
- Quantifying display clutter and its impact on pilots is crucial for optimizing aviation safety and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multidimensional measure for HUD display clutter.
- To assess how HUD configuration affects perceived clutter, workload, and flight performance.
- To model clutter scores and flight performance using visual display properties and subjective/objective clutter indices.
Main Methods:
- Conducted flight simulator experiments with 18 pilots across various experience levels.
- Utilized three HUD configuration sets under two flight workload conditions.
- Collected pilot ratings for clutter, workload, and measured flight performance, alongside display image analysis.
Main Results:
- The developed clutter measure demonstrated internal consistency and sensitivity to HUD configurations.
- Extreme display clutter levels (high or low) tended to increase workload and decrease performance stability.
- Predictive models for perceived clutter based on HUD visual properties were established.
Conclusions:
- The developed measures and models for display clutter are applicable to evaluating diverse display concepts.
- Understanding display clutter is key for designing effective and safe aviation displays.
