Assessing Situation Awareness in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential utility of the Situation Awareness Linked Indicators Adapted to Novel Tasks (SALIANT) methodology as an assessment tool in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations. Eighteen participants completed a UAS scenario (port security) as part of nine two-person crews (pilot and sensor operator). Subject matter experts mapped the naturally occurring team behaviors in the UAS scenario to create a SALIANT checklist, which was then used to rate participants’ SA. Results showed the SALIANT methodology was able to discriminate differences in SA behaviors among the UAS crews. Results also revealed significant correlations between targeted operator characteristics and several of the SALIANT indicators.

Authors

• Cuevas, Haydee M. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Aguiar, Marisa Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• assessment
• situation awareness
• unmanned aircraft systems
• Aviation
• Aviation Safety and Security