Tactile cues for orienting pilots during hover over moving targets.

INTRODUCTION: Providing information via the tactile sensory system allows the pilot to increase awareness without further taxing the visual and auditory perceptual systems. In this study, tactile cues were presented to pilots for target orientation during a simulated helicopter extraction over a moving target. The efficacy of the cues provided by the tactile system was assessed under various conditions (rested vs. fatigued, clear vs. degraded visual environment). METHODS: This study employed a mixed-model 2(4) factorial design, including one between-subjects variable (training amount: minimal, additional) and three within-subjects variables (state: rested, fatigued; visual environment: clear, degraded; tactile cue belt: active, inactive). Across 2 d under the 4 test conditions, 16 UH-60 rated, healthy aviators completed 8 sessions of 10-min stabilized hovering maneuvers over a moving target. All flights were conducted in a UH-60 flight simulator. RESULTS: Subjects were able to stay closer to the target when the tactile cuing system was active (M = 31.14 ft, SE = 3.17 ft) vs. inactive (M = 36.33 ft, SE = 2.84 ft). Likewise, subjects rated their situation awareness as greater when the tactile system was active vs. inactive. DISCUSSION: The results support the efficacy of the tactile system in providing directional cues for maintaining pilot performance during a hover maneuver over a moving target.