A Human Factors Evaluation: The Explosive Ordnance Disposal / Automated Information Retrieval and Expert System (EOD/AIRES)

Abstract

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Automated Information Retrieval & Expert System (EOD/AIRES) is a combination of state-of-the art computer hardware and software, developed by the U.S. Army Electronics Technology & Devices Laboratory (ETDL) to assist EOD teams in identifying and rendering safe unexploded ordnance. This study examines the identification time and error rate of using the EOD/AIRES versus using the current method, the TM-60 series manuals. Identification time was significantly reduced using the EOD/AIRES for less-experienced, U.S. Army EOD soldiers. Error rates decreased with the EOD/AIRES, but not by statistically significant amounts. The qualitative results clearly show a preference for the EOD/AIRES.

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