Effectiveness of Gunnery and Robotic Control Performance in a Simulated Multi-Tasking Environment

Abstract : In this study, we simulated a generic mounted crewstation environment and conducted an experiment to examine the workload and performance of the combined position of gunner and robotic operator. Results showed that gunner's target detection performance degraded significantly when s/he had to concurrently monitor, manage, or teleoperate an unmanned ground vehicle compared to the baseline condition (gunnery task only). Additionally, those with higher spatial ability (as measured by Spatial Orientation Test) performed significantly better than those with lower spatial ability. For the robotic tasks, participants detected significantly fewer targets when their robotic asset was semiautonomous instead of teleoperated, indicating overreliance on the aided target recognition capabilities available when task load was heavy (i.e., concurrent performance of the gunnery task). Participants perceived workload increased consistently as the concurrent task conditions became more challenging. Finally, those with higher perceived attentional control performed better on a concurrent communication task in the more difficult tasking conditions. Implications for military personnel selection were discussed.