Effects of Task Proficiency and Automation Reliability on Pilot-ePilot Teaming in Intelligent Aircraft Cockpits

Intelligence of aircraft cockpits can be improved by creating an electronic pilot (ePilot) to establish a Pilot-ePilot teaming relationship. Effects of task proficiency and automation reliability on such kind of human-autonomy teaming were studied, including task performance, task load, situation awareness, trust in automation, and human errors. In a 2 x 3 within-subjects experiment (low, medium & high levels for task proficiency and automation reliability), 21 male participants completed simulated flight tasks within local airport traffic patterns. Participants were teamed up with a system which took over the flight control priority based on task requirements and cognitive states. Experimental data was analyzed by statistical tests on significance and effect sizes. Results indicated that automation reliability influenced subjective and objective measures more than task proficiency, while task proficiency partly compensated the loss of performance due to deteriorated automation reliability. Findings support that the pilot-centered design principle should still be adhered to for Pilot-ePilot teaming in intelligent aircraft cockpits.