Pilot attention allocation modeling under multiple factors condition

Abstract

A new forecast model of attention allocation was built on four trade-off factors, including information priority, occurring probability, salient and effort, which involved both channels of information processing. To validate this model, sixteen participants from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics were recruited to perform an instrument monitoring task under different conditions. Participants were required to concentrate on monitoring the flight indicators presented on a simulation interface of head-up display and respond to abnormal information (anyone of the indicators went out of the normal range) by pressing the corresponding buttons on the keyboard. Fixation distribution was recorded as evaluation index of attention allocation using Smart Eye Pro 4.5 eye-movement tracking device. Simultaneously, reaction time and correct rate of key-press response were recorded by computer automatically as evaluation indices of behavior performance. The regression analysis revealed good agreement between fixation distribution and theoretical results. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.