CERES :: Browsing by Author "Korek, Wojciech Tomasz"

Browsing by Author "Korek, Wojciech Tomasz"

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Open Access
Analysis of visualization systems in flight simulators
(AIAA, 2023-06-08) Barrio, Luis D.; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Millidere, Murat; Whidborne, James F.
This paper details an analysis of different visualization systems for use in an academic flight simulator, Future Systems Simulator (FSS). First, an overview of off-the-shelf flight simulators is done, detailing the primary features of flight simulators such as Flight Gear, Prepar3D, X-Plane, and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020). Then, the current setup of the FSS is presented (which uses FlightGear), followed by the process of introducing X-Plane as a scenery-generation tool. To conduct a comparative analysis between FlightGear and X-Plane visual systems, a total of twelve participants with varying levels of experience were invited to participate in the study. The participants performed flight trials in a simple landing scenario at Heathrow Airport. Additionally, the more complex approach at London City Airport was performed with a group of only four highly experienced participants. Participants then gave their feedback and completed a questionnaire. The data from their attempts were recorded for qualitative and quantitative comparison. The results were analyzed to determine which of the two visual systems could be used in the FSS moving forward.
Open Access
Assessments on human-computer interaction using touchscreen as control inputs in flight operations
(Springer, 2022-06-16) Li, Wen-Chin; Liang, Yung-Hsiang; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Lin, John J. H.
The developing technology on innovative touchscreen applied in the cockpit can integrate control inputs and outputs on the same display in flight operations. Flight systems could be updated by modifying the touchscreen user interface without the complicated processes on reconfiguring cockpit panels. There is a potential risk on touchscreen components constrained by the issues associated with inadvertent touch, which may be defined as any system detectable touch issued to the touch sensors without the pilot’s operational consent. Pilots’ visual behaviours can be explored by using eye trackers to analyze the relationship between eye scan patterns and attention shifts while conducting monitoring tasks in flight operations. This research aims to evaluate human-computer interactions using eye tracker to investigate the safety concerns on implementation of touchscreen in flight operations. The scenario was set to conduct an instrument landing on the final approach using future system simulator. Participants were required to interact with all the control surfaces and checklists using the touchscreens located on different areas in the cockpit. Each participant performed landing scenario as pilot-flying (PF) and pilot-monitoring (PM) in random sequence. Currently PF and PM perform different tasks related to control inputs and control outputs monitoring in the flight deck. The PF’s primary obligation is to fly the aircraft’s flight path, and the PM’s main responsibility is to monitor the aircraft’s flight path and cross-check to the PF’s operational behaviours. By analyzing participants’ visual behaviours and scanning patterns, the findings on HCI related to applying touchscreen for future flight deck design would be applicable. There are some benefits on the implementation touchscreen for future flight deck design if the human-centred design principle can be integrated in the early stage.
Open Access
Comparative analysis of touchscreen inceptors and traditional sidesticks on flight decks: flight performance, visual behaviours and situation awareness
(Taylor and Francis, 2025-02-12) Wang, Yifan; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Blundell, James; Li, Wen-Chin
The concept of touchscreen primary control device is a novel approach of touchcreen implentation. The objective of this study is to investigate differences in flight performance and attention allocation between a touchscreen inceptor and a traditional sidestick. Twenty-one participants flew four simulated instrument landing system (ILS) approaches - with the touchscreen inceptor or traditional sidestick - during flight scenarios where an aircraft attitude disturbance was either present or absent. Results demonstrated that participant performance scores were worse with the touchscreen inceptor compared to the sidestick during attitude disturbance scenarios. Interestingly, participants exhibited reduced attention to external visual cues with the touchscreen inceptor compared to the sidestick. In addition, use of the touchscreen inceptor resulted in lower performance and lower self-reported situation awareness. Overall, the touchscreen inceptor demonstrated poorer performance compared to the traditional sidestick, highlighting limitations in its current design that warrant cautious consideration and further investigation.
Open Access
The evaluations of the impact of the pilot’s visual behaviours on the landing performance by using eye tracking technology
(Springer, 2023-07-09) Wang, Yifan; Yang, Lichao; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Zhao, Yifan; Li, Wen-Chin
Introduction. Eye tracking technology can be used to characterise a pilot's visual behaviour as well as to further analyse the workload and status of the pilot, which is crucial for tracking and predicting pilot performance and enhancing flight safety. Research questions. This research aims to investigate and identify the visual-related factors that could affect the pilot's landing operation performance (depending on whether the landing was successful or not). Method. There are 23 participants who performed the task of landing in the Future system simulator (FSS) while wearing eye trackers. Their eye tracking parameters including proportion of fixation count on primary flight display (PFC on PFD), proportion of fixation count on out the window (PFC on OTW), percentage change in pupil diameter (PCPD) and blink count were trained for classification using XGBoost according to whether they landed successfully or not. Results & Discussion. The results demonstrated that eye-movement features can be used to classify and predict a pilot's landing performance with an accuracy of 77.02%. PCPD and PFC on PFD are more crucial for performance classification out of the four features. Conclusion. It is practical to classify and predict pilot performance using eye-tracking technologies. The high importance of PCPD and PFC on PFD indicates that there is a correlation between pilots’ workload and attention distribution and performance, which has important implications for future predictive and analytical research on performance. The prediction of performance using eye tracking suggests that pilot status monitoring has a useful application in flight deck design.
Open Access
Future flight deck design: developing an innovative touchscreen inceptor combined with the primary flight display
(Elsevier, 2024-04-27) Wang, Yifan; Li, Wen-Chin; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Braithwaite, Graham
The touchscreen has the potential to optimize the space usage and efficiency of the flight deck. Currently, touchscreens can combine the input and output functions of different systems. However, it does not yet serve as an inceptor to replace the sidestick or control column for aircraft manoeuvres. This study aims to examine the potential of a touchscreen as a flight inceptor compared with a traditional sidestick and gamepad. This research recruited 72 participants who interacted with three inceptors for both an instrument landing with disturbance and without disturbance using the Future System Simulator. The findings demonstrated that pilot performance, system usability and pilots’ situation awareness of touchscreen inceptors were significantly inferior to those of traditional sidesticks and gamepads. Compared to the sidestick and gamepad, the touchscreen provided a poorer situation awareness with the highest supply and demand. In addition, the performance of all inceptors was significantly influenced by disturbance. There is still a long way to go for certification of a touchscreen as an inceptor on the future flight deck. This research showed that even though the touchscreen inceptor scored the lowest on both SUS and SART, the majority of pilots agreed that the touchscreen inceptor provided a better attentional supply in challenging disturbance circumstances, providing proof of concept for its possible inclusion in flight deck design. There is a potential that the emerging touchscreen as an inceptor may develop further along with human-system integration flight deck design.
Open Access
Future flight safety monitoring: comparison of different computational methods for predicting pilot performance under time series during descent by flight data and eye-tracking data
(Springer, 2024-06-01) Wang, Yifan; Li, Wen-Chin; Nichanian, Arthur; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Chan, Wesley Tsz-Kin
Introduction. Effective and real-time analysis of pilot performance is important for improving flight safety and enabling remote flight safety control. The use of flight data and pilot physiological data to analyse and predict pilot performance is an effective means of achieving this monitoring. Research question. This research aims to compare two forecasting methods (XGBoost and Transformer) in evaluating and predicting pilot performance using flight data and eye tracking data. Method. Twenty participants were invited to fly an approach using Instrument Landing System (ILS) guidance in the Future Systems Simulator (FSS) while wearing Pupil-Lab eye tracker. The deviation to the desired route, the pupil diameter and the gaze positions were selected for forecasting the flight performance indicator: the difference between the aircraft altitude and the reference altitude corresponding to the ideal 3-degree glide path. Utilize XGBoost and the Transformer forecasting technique to develop a forecasting model using the data from this research, and conduct a comparative analysis of the accuracy and convenience of both models. Results & Discussion. The result demonstrates that using XGBoost regression model had a higher prediction accuracy, (RMSEXGBoots = 42.29, RMSETransformer = 102.10) and its easier to achieve a high prediction accuracy than Transformer as Transformer forecasting method placed a high demand on debugging model and computing equipment. The deviation to desired route and the pupil diameter were more important in the XGBoost model. Conclusion. The use of machine learning and deep learning methods enables the monitoring and prediction of flight performance using flight data and pilot physiological data. The comparison of the two methods shows that it is not necessarily the newer and more complex technology that can build more accurate and faster prediction models, but building the right model based on the data is important for real-time flight data monitoring and prediction in the future.
Open Access
Investigating pilots’ operational behaviours while interacting with different types of inceptors
(Springer, 2022-06-16) Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Li, Wen-Chin; Lu, Linghai; Lone, Mudassir
There are different designs of inceptors applied in the modern flight deck. How do pilots define how to precisely control the aircraft as their intention? Ten pilots have been asked to take part in the flight simulation trials. They were given tasks to execute using sidestick, Xbox gamepad and touchscreen controller and provide feedback using the System Usability Scale. The aim was to investigate the feasibility of replacing conventional inceptors in aircraft. The results have shown that there is a potential in introducing alternate Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) methods in the flight deck, especially in terms of learnability, however there is still a lot of work before it happens. This paper summarises the ‘pilot study’ results and shows the potential for further research.
Open Access
Pilots' perceived workload and flight performance while interacting with touchscreen inceptor during instrument landings
(IEEE, 2023-11-10) Zhang, Jingyi; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Li, Wen-Chin
In this study, to dig into the further potential application of the touchscreen in flight operation, an integrated touchscreen system as the aircraft control inceptor was innovatively proposed. The touchscreen inceptor is integrated into the middle of the primary flight display allowing pilots to control the aircraft's movement horizontally (roll) and vertically (pitch) with their fingers. Fifty-six participants (23 pilots and 33 non-pilots) joined the Future Systems Simulator trail to perform instrument landings using the touchscreen and sidestick in conditions without and with simulated turbulence in vertical and horizontal channels. The heart rate variability reflecting the perceived workload was measured using the Inner Balance device. The flight data related to the flight path, touchdown location, and landing load were collected and calculated as the performance score. The three-way analysis of variance was applied to compare the perceived workload and flight performance between touchscreen and sidestick controllers in different disturbance conditions among pilots and nonpilots. The data analysis results indicated that in the scenario of landing with the disturbance, participants' heart rate variability was improved while interacting with the touchscreen inceptor compared to the sidestick. The flight performance of nonpilots while performing landing tasks with sidestick was significantly lower than pilots. Nevertheless, no significant difference in flight performance was found between nonpilots and pilots when using the touchscreen inceptor. The empirical study indicated that the touchscreen could provide a more intuitive interaction of a ‘point-where-you-want-to-go' control technique without the additional input device of sidestick to reduce the mental workload and cognitive stress. Furthermore, there is an evident decrease in performance score with the touchscreen inceptor compared to traditional sidestick due to the unfamiliarity of the touchscreen interactive mode in the prolonged aircraft control process. However, it is notable that nonpilots showed an equal level of flight performance with pilots in landing tasks with touchscreen control, revealing a quick-adapt interactive mode of touchscreen inceptor for novices to perform flight operations. Therefore, the training duration can be remarkably shortened for next-generation pilots, and the cost-efficiency can be improved as well.
Open Access
Self-organising maps for comparing flying performance using different inceptors
(Springer, 2024-06-01) Nichanian, Arthur; Li, Wen-Chin; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Wang, Yifan; Chan, Wesley Tsz-Kin
This paper addresses a new data analysis method which is suitable to cluster flight data and complement current exceedance-based flight data monitoring programmes within an airline. The data used for this study consists of 296 simulated approaches from 4.5 NM to 1 NM to the runway threshold, flown by 74 participants (both pilots and non-pilots) with either a conventional sidestick or a gamepad in the future flight simulator at Cranfield University. It was clustered and analysed with the use of Kohonen’s Self-Organising Maps (SOM) algorithm. The results demonstrate that SOM can be a meaningful indicator for safety analysts to accurately cluster both optimal and less-optimal flying performance. This methodology can therefore complement current deviation-based flight data analyses by highlighting day-to-day as well as exceptionally good performance, bridging the cap of current analyses with safety-II principles.
Open Access
Simulation framework and development of the Future Systems Simulator
(Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2024-12-01) Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Beecroft, P.; Lone, Mudassir; Bragado Aldana, Estela; Mendez, Arthur; Enconniere, J.; Asad, Hafiz ul; Grzedzinski, Kacper; Milidere, Murat; Whidborne, James F.; Li, Wen-Chin; Lu, Linghai; Alam, Mushfiqul; Asmayawati, Saryani; Del Barrio Conde, L.; Hargreaves, D.; Jenkins, D.
The Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC) at Cranfield University offers industry and academia an open environment to explore the opportunities for efficient integration of aircraft systems. As a part of the centre, Cranfield University, Rolls-Royce, and DCA Design International jointly have developed the Future Systems Simulator (FSS) for the purpose of research and development in areas such as human factors in aviation, single-pilot operations, future cockpit design, aircraft electrification, and alternative control approaches. Utilising the state-of-the-art modularity principles in simulation technology, the FSS is built to simulate a diverse range of current and novel aircraft, enabling researchers and industry partners to conduct experiments rapidly and efficiently. Central to the requirement, a unique, user-experience-centred development and design process is implemented for the development of the FSS. This paper presents the development process of such a flight simulator with an innovative flight deck. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates the FSS’s capabilities through case studies. The cutting-edge versatility and flexibility of the FSS are demonstrated through the diverse example research case studies. In the final section, the authors provide guidance for the development of an engineering flight simulator based on lessons learned in this project.
Open Access
Subjective measures on task complexity using touchscreens in flight operations
(Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, 2024-04-24) Wright, Ben; Blundell, James; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Li, Wen-Chin
The following preliminary study uses subjective measures of situational awareness, workload, and system usability to assess the effect of touchscreen flight deck displays in simple and complex flying environments during a simulated flight task. Eighteen participants were evaluated whilst flying a simulated aircraft, conducting both simple and complex flight operations. Results showed that situational awareness improved, and perceived workload was maintained, when task complexity was increased during touchscreen interaction on the flight deck. This was likely driven by touchscreens providing increased attentional supply. This improves the flight deck human-machine interface (HMI) from a pilot-centred perspective by improving access to task-relevant information. There was no significant change in levels of touchscreen usability as flight task complexity increased, once again ratifying the use of touchscreens in assisting cognitive function in some task types. The application and limitations of these findings is discussed.
Open Access
To be or not to be? Assessment on using touchscreen as inceptor in flight operation
(Elsevier, 2022-12-09) Li, Wen-Chin; Wang, Yifan; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz
Introduction. The innovative concept on applying touchscreen controls on the flight deck design had been discussed for a long time. However, there are some potential risks on touchscreen applications constrained by the issues associated with turbulence and pilots’ inadvertent activation. Research questions. This research aims to evaluate human-computer interactions and handling quality using touchscreens as inceptor in flight operations. Method. The scenario was set to conduct an instrument landing on the final approach using Future System Simulator (FSS). There are 8 commercial pilots (flight hours M = 4475.0, SD = 2742.1) using three different inceptors including traditional sidestick, touchscreen and gamepad for ILS landing. Results. There was a significant difference among three inceptors on handling quality in both landing without turbulence (F (2,14) = 6.25, p =.01, ηp2 = .47) and landing with turbulence (F (2,14) = 3.93, p =.04, ηp2 = .36) scenarios. Furthermore, post Hoc comparisons revealed that the handling quality of touchscreen was significantly lower than sidestick and gamepad. Discussion. By analyzing participants’ empirical experiences, the touchscreen inceptor was rated as the lowest handling quality among three inceptors due to the novel and lack of practice effects in flight operations. However, there is a potential on the information supply for touchscreen inceptor based on pilots’ feedbacks. Conclusion. Touchscreens provide numerous benefits for making flight decks simpler, but the usage as an inceptor is still in its infancy and there are still lots of problems that need to be fixed. Future Systems Simulator (FSS) is a highly reconfigurable modular flight simulator that allows pilots/researchers to explore the potential on future flight decks design for single pilot operations. There are some potential benefits on the implementation touchscreen inceptor for future flight deck design if the human-centred design principle can be integrated in the early stage.
Open Access
Touchscreen controls for future flight deck design: investigating visual parameters on human-computer interactions between pilot flying and pilot monitoring
(Aeronautical and Astronautical Society of the Republic of China, 2023-01-29) Li, Wen-Chin; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Liang, Yung-Hsiang; Lin, John J. H.
This study is concentrated on investigating the different visual behaviors and HCI patterns between pilot flying and pilot monitoring while interacting with touchscreen controls on the flight deck. Twelve participants with flight experiences (M=1150, SD=4019.9) attended this research. The apparatus included Future Systems Simulator (FSS), eye tracker, and system usability scale (SUS). The designated scenario in the experiment was an instrument landing. All participants were required to perform two instrument landings in two different roles, pilot flying (PF) and pilot monitoring (PM). The order of role of randomized to eliminate practice effects. The results revealed that fixation counts of pilot flying were different among four AOIs, F (3, 9) = 10.58, p = .003, η_p^2 = .78. On the other hand, the FC of pilot monitoring demonstrated a significant difference among four AOIs, F (3, 8) = 8.69, p = .007, η_p^2 = .77. There was a significant difference between PF and PM on the subjective assessment of SUS total score, t (11) =3.85, p = 0.003, Cohen's d= 1.11. The application of a touchscreen can integrate input and output in the same area for visual feedback. There is a rising need to simplify the future flight deck design based on the principle of human-centered design. Conclusion: The application of touchscreen flight controls may have the potential to facilitate single-pilot operations flight deck design in the future. TSCs considerations must be consistent with human information processing and pilots' operational characteristics on the future flight deck.
Open Access
Touchscreen Inspector in Future Flight Deck Design
(Cranfield University, 2023-01-17 09:16) Li, Wen-Chin; Wang, Yifan; Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Braithwaite, Graham
Fifty-one participants were invited to conduct two scenarios which consisted of landing with disturbance (LD) and landing no disturbance (LN) using three inceptors, including sidestick, gamepad and touchscreen on the FSS. Both the system usability scale (SUS) and situation awareness rating technique (SART-10D) were completed by participants at the end of each trial. Therefore, two-way repeated measure ANOVA was applied to analyse participants€™ ratings on SUS for system usability involving two sub-dimensions: usability (SUS-U) and learnability (SUS-L), and SART-10D for situation awareness including three sub-dimensions: demand (SART-D), supply (SART-S) and understanding (SART-U) while interacting with a touchscreen as inceptor for flight control. The inceptors and scenarios are two independent variables, both SUS and SART, and their sub-dimensions were dependent variables.
Open Access
Understanding human behaviour in flight operation using eye-tracking technology
(Springer, 2020-07-10) Korek, Wojciech Tomasz; Mendez, Arthur P.; Asad, Hafiz Ul; Li, Wen-Chin; Lone, Mudassir
A clear understanding of how the pilot processes the information in the cockpit while carrying out particular tasks is crucial for developing the Human-Machine Interface and inceptors that help reduce pilot workload. Eye-tracking data synchronised with aircraft dynamics data is used here to study the high-workload scenario of executing an offset landing in an engineering flight simulator. The study focused on identifying differences in behavioural patterns between line pilots and test pilots. Evidence for significant differences were found regarding the ability to multitask and monitor aircraft states. The research output will lead to reduction of the pilot’s workload and, in further study, proposition of a new display setups and inceptors.

Browsing by Author "Korek, Wojciech Tomasz"

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