The effect of flight phase on electrodermal activity and gaze behavior: A simulator study

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Aerospace Engineering
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Modern aircraft cockpits prioritize aircraft-to-pilot information flow for enhanced situational awareness.
• A significant gap exists in systems that provide aircraft with information regarding the pilot's current state.
• Monitoring pilot state is crucial for developing intelligent cockpit systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility of using biosensor data to assess pilot state.
• To identify psychophysiological indicators of pilot state during critical flight phases.
• To lay the groundwork for pilot-aware cockpit systems.

Main Methods:

• A simulator study was conducted to collect biosensor data from participants.
• Electrodermal activity and gaze behavior were recorded to infer pilot state.
• Data was collected across three flight phases: normal operation, instrument failure, and post-failure troubleshooting.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in electrodermal activity and gaze behavior were observed between flight phases.
• Psychophysiological measures effectively distinguished between regular flight, incident response, and troubleshooting.
• The findings indicate a strong correlation between biosensor data and pilot cognitive/emotional states.

Conclusions:

• Biosensor data holds significant potential for real-time pilot state monitoring.
• A pilot-aware cockpit can leverage this data to provide context-specific assistance.
• This research is a foundational step towards more adaptive and supportive aircraft environments.