Craig K. Allison

Overshadowing of geometric cues by a beacon in a spatial navigation task

In three experiments, we examined whether overshadowing of geometric cues by a discrete landmark (beacon) is due to the relative saliences of the cues. Using a virtual water maze task, human participants were required to locate a platform marked by a beacon in a distinctively shaped pool. In Experiment 1, the beacon overshadowed geometric cues in a trapezium, but not in an isosceles triangle. The longer escape latencies during acquisition in the trapezium control group with no beacon suggest that the geometric cues in the trapezium were less salient than those in the triangle. In Experiment 2, we evaluated whether generalization decrement, caused by the removal of the beacon at test, could account for overshadowing. An additional beacon was placed in an alternative corner. For the control groups, the beacons were identical; for the overshadow groups, they were visually unique. Overshadowing was again found in the trapezium. In Experiment 3, we tested whether the absence of overshadowing in the triangle was due to the geometric cues being more salient than the beacon. Following training, the beacon was relocated to a different corner. Participants approached the beacon rather than the trained platform corner, suggesting that the beacon was more salient. These results suggest that associative processes do not fully explain cue competition in the spatial domain.

Use of highways in the sky and a virtual pad for landing head up display symbology to enable improved helicopter pilots situation awareness and workload in degraded visual conditions

Abstract Flight within degraded visual conditions is a great challenge to pilots of rotary-wing craft. Environmental cues typically used to guide interpretation of speed, location and approach can become obscured, forcing the pilots to rely on data available from in-cockpit instrumentation. To ease the task of flight during degraded visual conditions, pilots require easy access to flight critical information. The current study examined the effect of ‘Highways in the Sky’ symbology and a conformal virtual pad for landing presented using a Head Up Display (HUD) on pilots’ workload and situation awareness for both clear and degraded conditions across a series of simulated rotary-wing approach and landings. Results suggest that access to the HUD lead to significant improvements to pilots’ situation awareness, especially within degraded visual conditions. Importantly, access to the HUD facilitated pilot awareness in all conditions. Results are discussed in terms of future HUD development. Practitioner Summary: This paper explores the use of a novel Heads Up Display, to facilitate rotary-wing pilots’ situation awareness and workload for simulated flights in both clear and degraded visual conditions. Results suggest that access to HUD facilitated pilots’ situation awareness, especially when flying in degraded conditions.

Modelling distributed crewing with STAMP

Changes to crewing configurations in commercial airlines are likely to emerge as a means of reducing operating costs. To consider the safety implications for a distributed crewing configuration, System Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) was applied to a rapid decompression hazard. High level control structures for current operations and distributed crewing are presented. The assumptions generated and additional steps to progress towards full System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) analysis are discussed.

Using Cognitive Work Analysis to Inform Policy Recommendations to Support Fuel-Efficient Driving

The role of man-made emissions in climate change has been a large focus of academic research and political discussion. One considerable source of emissions is everyday driving, and finding ways to reduce driving emissions is a great challenge. This paper presents the use of Cognitive Work Analysis as a potential tool in helping address this problem. Focusing on Control Task Analysis and Social Organization and Cooperation Analysis, this paper discusses the indirect role governmental organizations can play in reducing driving-related emissions. It is proposed that the use of Cognitive Work Analysis can provide insights not typically garnered from traditional academic literature surrounding eco-driving, including the role governmental organizations can play in reducing everyday emissions.

Modeling the Real World Using STISIM Drive® Simulation Software: A Study Contrasting High and Low Locality Simulations

This paper presents work undertaken to develop a high locality simulation of a real world driving environment within the STISIM Drive® v3 software. The paper considers the tools and techniques used to develop the simulation model and then examines the impact that the addition of realistic models has on driver performance metrics. In order to test the developed simulation model, participants drove both a high and low locality version of the same route in a driving simulator as well as the real world route. Drivers’ levels of immersion, perception of presence, performance metrics and subjective workload ratings were considered. Results from an initial pilot study suggest that individual differences play a role in participants’ levels of presence between simulations. Results are discussed in terms of potential future research.