Visual-Tactile warning integration enhances performance and attention under cognitive load in underground mining...

Area of Science:

• Human Factors Engineering
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Mining Engineering

Background:

• Underground mining vehicle operation demands high driver vigilance and cognitive capacity.
• Effective warning systems are critical for mitigating risks associated with driver monitoring under demanding conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of visual, tactile, and combined visual-tactile warnings on driving performance.
• To assess physiological responses and cognitive workload across varying task loads.
• To identify differences in warning effectiveness based on driver experience.

Main Methods:

• Sixty participants performed simulated underground mining vehicle tasks.
• Data collected included behavioral metrics, eye-tracking, electrocardiogram (ECG), and subjective workload.
• Tasks were varied across different cognitive load levels.

Main Results:

• Visual and combined warnings significantly improved reaction time and accuracy.
• Combined warnings demonstrated the greatest benefit under high cognitive load.
• Tactile warnings alone increased mental workload, despite good detection rates.
• Driver experience modulated responses, with novices exhibiting higher strain.

Conclusions:

• Combined visual-tactile warnings offer superior performance enhancement for underground vehicle operators.
• These multimodal warnings support visual attention and mitigate physiological strain.
• Findings provide evidence-based recommendations for designing safer mining vehicle interfaces.