Human-automation interaction for multiple robot control: the effect of varying automation assistance and individual differences on operator performance

• Published in: Ergonomics Vol. 61; no. 8; pp. 1033 - 1045
• Main Authors: Wright, Julia L., Chen, Jessie Y. C., Barnes, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.08.2018; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Automation; eye-tracking; Human performance; Human-automation interaction; individual differences; multi-tasking; Multiple robots; Operator performance; Robot control; situation awareness; Situational awareness; supervisory control; Target detection; Tracking control; Unmanned vehicles; Workload; Workloads; Human–automation interaction; workload; eye-tracking; multi-tasking; supervisory control; situation awareness; individual differences
• ISSN: 0014-0139; 1366-5847; 1366-5847
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2018.1441449

In a human-automation interaction study, automation assistance level (AL) was investigated for its effects on operator performance in a dynamic, multi-tasking environment. Participants supervised a convoy of manned and unmanned vehicles traversing a simulated environment in three AL conditions, while maintaining situation awareness and identifying targets. Operators' situation awareness, target detection performance, workload and individual differences were evaluated. Results show increasing AL generally improved task performance and decreased perceived workload, however, differential effects due to operator spatial ability and perceived attentional control were found. Eye-tracking measures were useful in parsing out individual differences that subjective measures did not detect. At the highest AL, participants demonstrated potentially complacent behaviour, indicating task disengagement. Practitioner Summary: The effect of varying automation assistance level (AL) on operator performance on multiple tasks were examined in a within-subjects experiment. Findings indicated a moderate AL improved performance, while higher levels encouraged complacent behaviour. Effects due to individual differences suggest that effective AL depends on the underlying characteristics of the operator.