Adaptive Boundary Aids in Complex Air Combat Scenarios

Abstract

Advances in aircraft operational capabilities have led to a dramatic increase in the operational tempo facing air combat aviators, which has in turn led to SA failures, particularly with respect to secondary information. For example, when engaging an air threat, aviators will often overlook key information such as geopolitical boundaries, resulting in potential infractions of rules of engagement. In a previous study, we investigated an Adaptive Border Display designed to maintain awareness of these boundaries, and found that it was not helpful. However, in that study, our scenarios did not create the high workload situations in which pilots lose track of these boundaries. In this study, we used significantly more complex scenarios to investigate this display, creating high workload situations for the aviators. Results showed that in these situations, the Adaptive Border display had a significant effect on improving aviator performance.