UAS Human Factors introduction

 In module 1 of UASE 638, I've learned about some issues with Remotely Piloted Aircraft, and how human factors relate to said issues.

  1. Sensory cues:
    • In remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), the pilot relies primarily on visual cues, with a handful of additional sensors. In a traditionally piloted aircraft, pilots use all of their senses, be it sight, sound, feel, smell, or hearing, in addition to gauge clusters and other sensors. This makes it harder for RPA pilots to determine when something goes wrong, but more critically, the signs and cues before something goes wrong so they can take action to mitigate or alleviate the issue.
  2. Communication:
    • In RPAs, the pilot, by definition, is controlling the aircraft remotely. This crops up some issues, such as latency, loss of link, and communication with other aircraft. 
      1. Issues caused by latency are similar to those of sensory cues: When the pilot pitches the aircraft, it takes time for data to be sent and processed then displayed to the pilot. This disconnect can be confusing sometimes, as opposed to conventionally piloted aircraft, when the pilot operates any control surface, they can physically feel the feedback response and adjust accordingly. 
      2. Capable UAS today now have automation onboard. Therefore, when the UAS inevitably loses connection to the ground station and pilot, they are able to pause/continue/not-abandon the mission. However, this poses more some additional issues: Sometimes the link is only lost for a brief period of time, after which connection will be re-established. This is known as a nuisance lost link according to the Handbook of Human Factors in Air Transportation Systems. Because many lost link protocols involve the UAS conducting recovery maneuvers -flying in circles for example- some pilots may try and save time and fuel by skipping the lost link protocols, and gamble on the connection returning sooner than later so that they might save time. However, the link is not guarantied to reconnect, so this poses a safety issue of having a non-communicative UAS flying on its own with no guidance. 
      3. A link between UAS and the remote pilot is not the only communication needed. A UAS also needs to be able to communicate with ATC and other aircraft in the area. Any loss in communications with these stakeholders may result in serious incidents resulting in physical and psychological harm, as well as death. 
References:
Handbook of Human Factors in Air Transportation Systems, edited by Steven James Landry, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/lib/erau/detail.action?docID=5160886.

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