Workload Related Changes In Eye, Cardiac, Respiratory and Brain Activity DuringSimulated Air Traffic Control

摘要

In this investigation, eight Air Force air traffic controllers (ATCs) performedthree scenarios on TRACON, a computer-based ATC simulation. Two scenarios, each with three levels of difficulty, varied either traffic volume by manipulating the number of aircraft to be handled or varied traffic complexity by manipulating arriving to departing flight ratios, pilot skill and the mixture of aircraft types. The third scenario, referred to as the overload condition, required that controllers handle an extremely high traffic volume in a very limited amount of time. The effects of the manipulations on controller workload were assessed using performance-based, subjective (TLX), and physiological (heart, eye, respiration and EEG) measures. The results provide support for the differential sensitivity of a variety of workload measures in complex tasks, underscore the importance of traffic complexity in ATC workload, and support the utility of TRACON as a tool for studies of ATC workload.