NTL Record

Title Hidden Markov Models as a tool to measure pilot attention switching during simulated ILS approaches
Record ID 37900
Personal Name
Creator
Hayashi, M.; Oman, C.M.; Zuschlag, M.
Source 12th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Dayton, OH, Apr. 14-17, 2003, pp. 502-507; 6p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
Publication Date 20030414
Language English
Abstract The pilot's instrument scanning data contain information about not only the pilot's eye movements, but also the pilot's cognitive process during flight. However, it is often difficult to interpret the scanning data at the cognitive level because: 1) some instruments provide partially-redundant information, and 2) some instruments display more than one type of information. To avoid these problems, a new modeling and analysis technique is demonstrated that looks at the scanning data from the task attention-level as well as from the instrument-fixation level. Basic principles of attitude instrument flying were incorporated to construct a task-instrument framework, and a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) was used to estimate hidden task transitions. An ILS simulation experiment was conducted, and the task sequence estimated by the HMM matched 79-92% of the task epochs verbally reported by the pilot. The HMM and traditional instrument fixation analyses complement each other, and successfully detected effects of display format changes that did not produce significant changes in flight technical error and subjective workload. Potential advantages of this method for the analyses of advanced cockpit displays (e.g., primary flight displays, head-up displays) are discussed.
Rosap ID dot:9124
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9124
TRT Terms Airline pilots; Markov processes; Attention; Simulation; Flight simulators; Eye movements
General Subjects Hidden Markov Models; Pilots; Eye movements; Flight simulators; Cockpit displays
Classification NTL - AVIATION - AVIATION;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Proceedings
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/37000/37900/37900/Zuschlag_HiddenMarkov.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository