Scaling Robotic Displays: Displays and Techniques for Dismounted Movement with Robots

Abstract : The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of display type and robotic employment techniques on robotic control during dynamic dismounted Soldier operations. The study took place at Fort Benning, GA, using Soldiers from the Officer Candidate School (OCS) as participants. The employment techniques contrasted stationary bounding operation with operation of the robot while the Soldier was on the move. The two display types were a handheld display (HHD) and a helmet mounted display (HMD). Results indicated that Soldiers performed better with the HHD than they did with the HMD used in this experiment. Their course completion times, driving errors, and the number of times they drove off course were all lower with the HHD. The Soldiers also preferred the HHD to the HMD and rated the workload with the HHD lower. With regard to technique, Soldiers preferred the bounding technique to the continuous movement technique. Fewer driving and off course errors were made and more items were detected with the bounding technique. Finally, until robots become more autonomous in their navigation, robotic control during Soldier movement is beyond the multitasking ability of most Soldiers.

[1]  E. Williams.  Experimental Designs Balanced for the Estimation of Residual Effects of Treatments , 1949 .

[2]  Moira B. Flanagan,et al.  Motion Sickness, Console Video Games, and Head-Mounted Displays , 2007, Hum. Factors.

[3]  Neil G. Bergstrom,et al.  Performance and Comfort on Near-Eye Computer Displays , 2002, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[4]  Christian B. Carstens,et al.  Scaling Robotic Displays: Visual and Multimodal Options for Navigation by Dismounted Soldiers , 2009 .

[5]  Troy D. Kelley,et al.  The Effects of Workload Presented via Visual and Auditory Displays on Soldier Shooting and Secondary Task Performance , 2007 .

[6]  Christopher D. Wickens,et al.  Comparing Quantitative Model Predictions to Experimental Data in Multiple-UAV Flight Control , 2003 .

[7]  S. Cobb,et al.  Static posture tests for the assessment of postural instability after virtual environment use , 1998, Brain Research Bulletin.

[8]  Byron J. Pierce,et al.  Perceptual Issues in the Use of Head-Mounted Visual Displays , 2006, Hum. Factors.

[9]  S. Holm.  A Simple Sequentially Rejective Multiple Test Procedure , 1979 .

[10]  Christian B. Carstens,et al.  Future Force Warrior: Insights from Air Assault Expeditionary Force Assessment , 2007 .

[11]  Mark H. Draper,et al.  Effects of Image Scale and System Time Delay on Simulator Sickness within Head-Coupled Virtual Environments , 2001, Hum. Factors.

[12]  E. Muth,et al.  A questionnaire for the assessment of the multiple dimensions of motion sickness. , 2001, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[13]  Monica M. Glumm,et al.  A Comparison of Soldier Performance Using Current Land Navigation Equipment with Information Integrated on a Helmet-Mounted Display. , 1998 .

[14]  Christian B. Carstens,et al.  Scalability of Robotic Displays: Display Size Investigation , 2008 .

[15]  B. J. Winer.  Statistical Principles in Experimental Design , 1992 .

[16]  S. Hart,et al.  Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research , 1988 .

[17]  James F. Knight,et al.  Effect of Head-Mounted Displays on Posture , 2007, Hum. Factors.

[18]  Andre B. Bondi,et al.  Characteristics of scalability and their impact on performance , 2000, WOSP '00.

[19]  Ivan E. Sutherland,et al.  A head-mounted three dimensional display , 1968, AFIPS Fall Joint Computing Conference.

[20]  David C. Foyle,et al.  Attentional limitations with Head-Up Displays , 1993 .

[21]  Penelope M. Sanderson,et al.  Does a Head-Mounted Display Worsen Inattentional Blindness? , 2006 .

[22]  Jessie Y. C. Chen,et al.  Human-Robot Interface: Issues in Operator Performance, Interface Design, and Technologies , 2006 .

[23]  S V Cobb,et al.  Measurement of postural stability before and after immersion in a virtual environment. , 1999, Applied ergonomics.