A Tactile Cockpit Instrument to Support Altitude Control

Abstract

We tested the effect of a tactile torso display on keeping an instructed altitude during low level flight. The tactile instrument consisted of 64 vibrating elements attached to the torso, shoulders and thighs of the pilot. In a helicopter simulator, 12 student pilots flew under different conditions of vision (full vision and night vision) and the tactile instrument (none, a simple version and a complex version). The simple version presented the direction of the desired altitude. The complex version added the current motion direction. The participants performed an additional cognitive task during half of each scenario. We analyzed performance and subjective mental effort ratings. The results showed that the tactile instrument halved the altitude error without effecting the mental effort rating. This effect was present in full vision and in night vision conditions. There were no differences between both versions of the tactile instrument. We conclude that this emerging technology is a powerful support in a low-level flight without enlarging the pilot's mental effort.