Cognitive Factors in Helicopter Low-Level Navigation: An Overview of the Research

A set of seven experiments are described that examine cognitive factors involved in low level navigation, and how these factors are influenced by electronic map display design. In the first four experiments, issues of map rotation are addressed. In addition to their technical costs in graphics requirements, rotating maps also provide the pilot with an inconsistent representation of the terrain, which may hinder the performance of certain map location tasks. However rotating maps also provide a congruence between the map depictions and the forward field of view and control action while on southerly headings. This congruence is missing from fixed (north up maps). Our results suggest that the benefits of map rotation are indeed task dependent, and that both visual momentum principles and workload sharing by a second crew member may offset the navigational costs of fixed maps. In two experiments, we examine the feasibility of 3D (perspective) maps. The results suggest that these should be track up; that they support adequate lateral guidance, but do not provide as effective support for vertical control. The final experiments examine methods of flight rehearsal. Map study is compared with passive viewing of videos, and active flying through computer generated imagery of the path to be flown. Active flight is the superior technique when workload is low, but diminishes in effectiveness under high workload. Map study appears to be quite effective in both experiments.