Flight-Test of a Tactile Situational Awareness System in a High-Hover Task.

The National Research Council of Canada’s Flight Research Laboratory, in conjunction with Defence Research and Development Canada-Toronto recently flight-tested the U.S. Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory’s Tactile Situational Awareness System (TSAS). The TSAS consisted of a vest that incorporated eight columns of three pneumatically driven buzzers or ‘tactors’. As well, tactors are placed on each of the pilot’s shoulders and on the seat under the pilot’s thighs. In the current study, 11 pilots used the TSAS to cue height and horizontal axis performance in a high-hover task flown in the NRC Bell 205 helicopter. Pilots were required to hover in a fixed position 150 ft above ground with/without TSAS cues and in good and degraded visual conditions. Tactor activation guided the pilot to hover at a designated position and to maintain a required altitude. For example, a column of tactors firing on the pilots back would indicate that the helicopter should move forward. RMS errors in position and height were measured as well as subjective ratings of situational awareness and workload. TSAS cues reduced the RMS error for vertical and horizontal error. Pilot situational awareness in DVE conditions, as measured by the China Lake situational awareness rating scale, was rated better with the TSAS cues than without TSAS cueing. Pilot comments from post-flight debrief suggested that the TSAS cues were an effective source of information for maintaining position.