Browsing by Author "Zhang, Jingyi"
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Item Open Access The analysis of occurrences associated with air traffic volume and air traffic controllers’ alertness for fatigue risk management(Wiley, 2020-09-13) Li, Wen‐Chin; Kearney, Peter; Zhang, Jingyi; Hsu, Yueh-Ling; Braithwaite, GrahamFatigue is an inevitable hazard in the provision of air traffic services and it has the potential to degrade human performance leading to occurrences. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires air navigation services which providers establish fatigue risk management systems (FRMS) based on scientific principles for the purpose of managing fatigue. To develop effective FRMSs, it is important to investigate the relationship between traffic volume, air traffic management occurrences, and fatigue. Fifty‐seven qualified ATCOs from a European Air Navigation Services provider participated in this research by providing data indicating their alertness levels over the course of a 24‐hour period. ATCOs’ fatigue data were compared against the total of 153 occurrences and 962,328 air traffic volumes from the Eurocontrol TOKAI incident database in 2019. The result demonstrated that ATCO fatigue levels are not the main contributory factor associated with air traffic management occurrences, although fatigue did impact ATCOs’ performance. High traffic volume increases ATCO cognitive task load that can surpass available attention resources leading to occurrences. Furthermore, human resilience drives ATCOs to maintain operational safety though they suffer from circadian fatigue. Consequently, FRMS appropriately implemented can be used to mitigate the effects of fatigue. First‐line countermeasure strategies should focus on enough rest breaks and roster schedule optimization; secondary strategies should focus on monitoring ATCOs’ task loads that may induce fatigue. It is vital to consider traffic volume and ATCOs’ alertness levels when implementing effective fatigue risk management protocols.Item Open Access Applying psychophysiological coherence training based on HRV-biofeedback to enhance pilots’ resilience and wellbeing(Elsevier, 2022-12-09) Zhang, Jingyi; Li, Wen-Chin; Andrews, GavinIntroduction. The COVID-19 pandemic not only limited pilots’ proficiency in performing routine tasks, but also increased stress levels and operational risk due to new procedures in flight operations related to safety and health regulations. There is, therefore, an increasing need to improve pilots’ mental and physical health to maintain aviation safety Research question. (1) Does the practice of psychophysiological coherence using heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback and the Quick Coherence Technique (QCT) improve pilots’ resilience? (2) What effects does psychophysiological coherence practice have on pilots’ resilience and wellbeing? Method. Eighteen commercial pilots’ perceived stress and wellness were evaluated subjectively by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Ardell Wellness Self-Assessment (AWSA). They were taught the QCT for facilitating psychophysiological coherence, and their HRV data reflecting automatic nervous system (ANS) activities were collected as they practiced QCT via Inner Balance HRV sensors. Results. The QCT training improved pilots’ AWSA scores (t = -3.55, p = .002) and decreased PSS scores (t = 6.37, p < .001). Pilots’ post-training HRV were improved with SDNNs higher than pre-training, t = -4.88, p < .001; normalized low frequency (LF) power increased (t = -10.91, p < .001) and low-frequency to high-frequency (LF/HF) ratios increased (t = -3.92, p = .001). Additionally, pilots’ post-training respiration rates were lower than pre-training, t = -2,45, p = .025. Discussion. Based on the empirical data analysis, HRV-biofeedback QCT can improve psychophysiological coherence and thereby increase pilots’ resilience and wellbeing. Increased post-training SDNNs, normalized LF power, and LF/HF ratio indicate the improvement of ANS control and balance, and stress management capacity. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of HRV-biofeedback QCT training in improving psychophysiological coherence, which confers real-time and post-practice benefits of optimal energy utility and self-regulation in challenging situations on flight operations and everyday life. Conclusion. This research demonstrates significant benefits of a short session of HRV-biofeedback QCT on pilots’ resilience and cognitive process by improving psychophysiological coherence. HRV-biofeedback QCT training can be an effective intervention for aviation authorities and airline operators to develop peer support programs for pilots to increase psychological resilience and wellbeing. This may be particularly beneficial given the various challenges presented to pilots in their preparation for return to normal operations.Item Open Access Augmented visualization cues on primary flight display facilitating pilot's monitoring performance(Elsevier, 2019-11-14) Li, Wen-Chin; Horn, Andreas; Sun, Zhen; Zhang, Jingyi; Braithwaite, GrahamThere have been many aviation accidents and incidents related to mode confusion on the flight deck. The aim of this research is to evaluate human-computer interactions on a newly designed augmented visualization Primary Flight Display (PFD) compared with the traditional design of PFD. Based on statistical analysis of 20 participants interaction with the system, there are significant differences on pilots’ pupil dilation, fixation duration, fixation counts and mental demand between the traditional PFD design and augmented PFD. The results demonstrated that augmented visualisation PFD, which uses a green border around the “raw data” of airspeed, altitude or heading indications to highlight activated mode changes, can significantly enhance pilots’ situation awareness and decrease perceived workload. Pilots can identify the status of flight modes more easily, rapidly and accurately compared to the traditional PFD, thus shortening the response time on cognitive information processing. This could also be the reason why fixation durations on augmented PFDs were significantly shorter than traditional PFDs. The augmented visualization in the flight deck improves pilots’ situation awareness as indicated by increased fixation counts related to attention distribution. Simply highlighting the parameters on the PFD with a green border in association with relevant flight mode changes will greatly reduce pilots’ perceived workload and increase situation awareness. Flight deck design must focus on methods to provide pilots with enhanced situation awareness, thus decreasing cognitive processing requirements by providing intuitive understanding in time limited situations.Item Open Access Data supporting: 'Quick coherence technique facilitating commercial pilots' psychophysiological resilience to the impact of COVID-19'(Cranfield University, 2022-11-23 16:29) Li, Wenliang; Zhang, Jingyi; Braithwaite, Graham; Kearney, PeterEighteen commercial pilots voluntarily participated in a two-day training on quick coherence technique (QCT) following a two-month self-regulated practicing QCT during the controlled rest breaks in the flight deck and day-to day life. There are subjective and objective assessments to evaluate the effects on QCT biofeedback.Item Open Access Data supporting: 'The influence of augmented reality interaction design on Pilot's perceived workload and situation awareness'(Cranfield University, 2022-11-23 15:59) Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Court, Samuel; Braithwaite, Graham; Kearney, PeterThis work explored the potential for Augmented Reality (AR) rendering information superimposed over the flight deck to increase a pilot€™s situation awareness (SA). This emerging technology introduced novel human-computer interaction paradigms that would have impact on pilot€™s cognitive demands.Item Open Access Dataset "AR SUS & QUIS Hololens"(Cranfield University, 2024-08-09) Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Blundell, James; Court, SamuelAR system usability and user experience in flight operationsItem Open Access Human performance assessment of a single air traffic controller conducting multiple remote tower operations(Wiley, 2019-11-13) Kearney, Peter; Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Braithwaite, Graham; Wang, LeiThe innovative concept of multiple remote tower operations (MRTO) can maximize cost savings by applying video panorama‐based remote tower working positions, which can facilitate fewer air traffic controllers (ATCO) to provide the air traffic services (ATS) function for more airports. Five subject‐matter experts, qualified remote tower ATCOs, participated in this research work by applying the human error template (HET) and comparing workload between physical tower operations and MRTO using NASA‐TLX (Task Load Index). The results demonstrate that augmented visualization provided sufficient technical support for a single ATCO to perform tasks originally designed to be performed by four ATCOs, however, the demands of the associated multiple tasks induced significant workload. There were significant differences in ATCOs’ mental demand, temporal demand, effort, and frustration between MRTO and physical tower operations. This innovative technology may induce human–computer interaction (HCI) issues that impact ATCO's perceived workload. This creates a need for further research on how to manage ATCO's workload in a multiple remote tower environment. This research work provided scientific evidence that MRTO can achieve the objectives of Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research program. The findings can be applied to both ATCO training design and remote tower system design.Item Open Access The impact of out-the-window size on air traffic controllers’ visual behaviours and response time on digital tower operations(Elsevier, 2022-06-24) Li, Wen-Chin; Moore, Peter; Zhang, Jingyi; Lin, John; Kearney, PeterDigital tower using video-panorama display permits the provision of air traffic services remotely without the need for a local physical tower. The recent growth of visual science has demonstrated the popular concept in respect of the size of display “bigger is better”. The aim of this research is to examine the sizes of Out-the-Window (OTW) panoramic displays and how they affect controller's visual behaviours, response time and workload. There are two validated OTW (43-inch vs 55-inch) which can potentially be implemented in the digital tower module. It is critical to investigate air traffic controllers’ cognitive demand and monitoring performance while interacting with different sizes of OTW in the digital tower module. This research recruited 15 qualified controllers working at a European regional airport. The results demonstrated that a 43-inch display was a better human-computer interaction in target identification than a 55-inch OTW panorama display. The subjective and objective approaches revealed that controllers’ visual behaviours and response times were difference while interacting with different sizes of OTW, but controllers’ workload did not show difference. The bigger screen presents bigger stimuli which are easier spotted by ATCOs, but it induces bigger amplitude of head and eye movements, bigger distortion on both edges of screen and longer response time on target identifications. System designers should be aware of the effects of peripheral vision and visual distortion on panorama displays while designing digital tower modules for the provision of future air traffic services.Item Open Access The influence of augmented reality interaction design on Pilot's perceived workload and situation awareness(Elsevier, 2022-11-04) Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Court, Samuel; Kearney, Peter; Braithwaite, GrahamThis work explored the potential for Augmented Reality (AR) rendering information superimposed over the flight deck to increase a pilot's situation awareness (SA). This emerging technology introduced novel human-computer interaction paradigms that would have impact on pilot's cognitive demands. The objective of this research was to evaluate both the pilot's perceived workload and SA while interacting with an AR device using different interactive modes. Participants performed traditional landing checklists as a baseline to compare with the AR gesture-command and voice-command checklists. The research results showed that gesture-commands created additional cognitive and physical demands. Conversely, voice-command checklists could constitute a significant improvement in terms of reducing participants' perceived workload and maximising SA performance. The findings provided evidence that the interactive modes of AR user interface design could influence participant's cognitive information processing and perceived workload in flight operations. However, there were some limitations with AR applications that included latency on response time, narrow field of view, accuracy of voice recognition, calibration within dynamic environment and inexplicable movements of the head position that required further investigation. An AR device can be a great tool for training at the initial stage to increase cost-efficiency in flight operations. Furthermore, the implementation of an AR design may provide part of the potential solution for single pilot operations in the future.Item 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-ChinIn 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.Item Open Access Practice effects of a breathing technique on pilots’ cognitive and stress associated heart rate variability during flight operations(Taylor & Francis, 2024-06-10) Zhang, Jingyi; Li, Wen-Chin; Braithwaite, Graham; Blundell, JamesCommercial pilots endure multiple stressors in their daily and occupational lives which are detrimental to psychological well-being and cognitive functioning. The Quick coherence technique (QCT) is an effective intervention tool to improve stress resilience and psychophysiological balance based on a five-minute paced breathing exercise with heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback. The current research reports on the application of QCT training within an international airline to improve commercial pilots’ psychological health and support cognitive functions. Forty-four commercial pilots volunteered in a one-month training programme to practise self-regulated QCT in day-to-day life and flight operations. Pilots’ stress index, HRV time-domain and frequency-domain parameters were collected to examine the influence of QCT practice on the stress resilience process. The results demonstrated that the QCT improved psychophysiological indicators associated with stress resilience and cognitive functions, in both day-to-day life and flight operation settings. HRV fluctuations, as measured through changes in RMSSD and LF/HF, revealed that the resilience processes were primarily controlled by the sympathetic nervous system activities that are important in promoting pilots’ energy mobilization and cognitive functions, thus QCT has huge potential in facilitating flight performance and aviation safety. These findings provide scientific evidence for implementing QCT as an effective mental support programme and controlled rest strategy to improve pilots’ psychological health, stress management, and operational performance.Item Open Access Psychophysiological coherence training to moderate air traffic controllers’ fatigue on rotating roster(Wiley, 2022-02-24) Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Kearney, PeterThe nature of the current rotating roster, providing 24-h air traffic services over five irregular shifts, leads to accumulated fatigue which impairs air traffic controllers’ cognitive function and task performance. It is imperative to develop an effective fatigue risk management system to improve aviation safety based upon scientific approaches. Two empirical studies were conducted to address this issue. Study 1 investigated the mixed effect of circadian rhythm disorders and resource depletion on controllers’ accumulated fatigue. Then, study 2 proposed a potential biofeedback solution of quick coherence technique which can mitigate air traffic controllers’ (ATCOs’) fatigue while on controller working position and improve ATCOs’ mental/physical health. The current two-studies demonstrated a scientific approach to fatigue analysis and fatigue risk mitigation in the air traffic services domain. This research offers insights into the fluctuation of ATCO fatigue levels and the influence of a numbers of factors related to circadian rhythm and resource depletion impact on fatigue levels on study 1; and provides psychophysiological coherence training to increase ATCOs’ fatigue resilience to mitigate negative impacts of fatigue on study 2. Based on these two studies, the authors recommended that an extra short break for air traffic controllers to permit practicing the quick coherence breathing technique for 5 min at the sixth working hour could substantially recharge cognitive resources and increase fatigue resilience. Application: Present studies highlight an effective fatigue intervention based on objective biofeedback to moderate controllers’ accumulated fatigue as a result of rotating shift work. Accordingly, air navigation services providers and regulators can develop fatigue risk management systems based on scientific approaches to improve aviation safety and air traffic controller's wellbeing.Item Open Access Quick coherence technique facilitating commercial pilots’ psychophysiological resilience to the impact of COVID-19(Taylor and Francis, 2022-10-18) Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Braithwaite, Graham; Kearney, PeterThis study investigates the effect of quick coherence technique (QCT) on commercial pilots’ resilience to the unprecedented impact of a pandemic. Eighteen commercial pilots voluntarily participated in a 2-day training course on QCT followed by 2 months of self-regulated QCT practicing during controlled rest in the flight deck and day-to day life. There are subjective and objective assessments to evaluate the effects of QCT on commercial pilots’ psychophysiological resilience. Results demonstrated that QCT training can significantly increase pilots’ psychophysiological resilience thereby improving their mental/physical health, cognitive functions, emotional stability and wellness on both subjective (PSS & AWSA) and objective measures (coherence scores). Moreover, pilots who continued practicing self-regulated QCT gained the maximum benefits. Current research has identified great potential to enhance pilots’ mental/physical health via QCT training. Operators can develop peer support programs for pilots to increase resilience and maintain mental and physical health using the QCT technique. Practitioner summary: QCT breathing has been proven to increase commercial pilots’ resilience by moderating psychophysiological coherence, strengthening mental/physical capacity and sustaining positive emotions to deal with the challenges both on the flight deck and in everyday life.Item Open Access Visual scan patterns reflect to human-computer interactions on processing different types of messages in the flight deck(Elsevier, 2019-04-28) Li, Wen-Chin; Zhang, Jingyi; Le Minh, Tam; Cao, Jiaqi; Wang, LeiThe flight deck of commercial aircraft is sophisticated and searching for the necessary information at the right time is sometimes challenging. This research investigates pilot's visual parameters while interacted with two different designs of crew alerting system by eye tracking technology. There are 24 aviation professionals that participated in this experiment including commercial pilots, private pilots and avionic engineers. Compared with traditional design, the new integrated design applied proximity compatibility principles to assist pilots in searching necessary information to deal with urgent situations. The results demonstrated that the integrated design is superior to traditional design in providing accurate instructions as determined by visual behaviors. However, the integrated design increases pilot's situation awareness by redirecting attention from current task to the most critical task with the cost of a longer total fixation duration time. Pilot's visual parameters demonstrated significant differences while interacting with PFD mainly numeric, ND mostly by symbols and EICAS with presented text messages. Therefore, flight deck design has to adopt a holistic approach as pilot's visual attentions is shifting among all types of different displays to gain situation awareness rather than focus on only one display. The design of integrated EICAS can provide detailed instructions to deal with urgent situations which induced higher cognitive loads as pilot's pupil dilation is significant bigger than interacted with traditional design. By eye tracking technology, it is applicable to design human-centred flight decks to improve safety and human performance in aviation.