Evaluation of Voice vs. Text Communication Modes in Simulated UAM Operations.

Abstract: Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is a system that is expected to operate within and around metropolitan environments, utilizing electric, vertical takeoff and landing (e-VTOL) aircraft, to create on-demand, highly automated passenger and cargo-carrying air transportation services. Many stakeholders are developing such systems, although several barriers to UAM operation remain. Two barriers being addressed in our simulation facility are pilot training and air traffic management operations. Although the UAM industry is focused on autonomous operations, the initial UAM operations will have ground or onboard pilots, yet the forecasted pilot shortage will be problematic. Completely autonomous systems will result from an evolution, of pilot-based operations, to onboard operators flying with automated assistance and finally completely autonomous vehicles. We are currently investigating and evaluating concepts for simplified vehicle operations and air traffic management using a virtual UAM eVTOL vehicle in a CAVE virtual environment. In the first test of the UAM vehicle (e.g., Strybel et al., 2021) pilots and reported that the simulation was sufficiently realistic for tests of UAM operations. Here we report on a subsequent investigation of communication modes for pilots flying UAM routes over the San Francisco metropolitan area. The routes consisted of stops at six vertiports, either at airports or other locations, for picking up/dropping off passengers. UAM pilots communicated with air traffic control and vertiport managers using either voice or text messaging. Voice communications were consistent with current day air traffic control operations. Text communications were via a custom message pad application that enabled standard messages to/from ATC (requests and responses) via touch input. Six certified pilots flew two routes using each mode of communication. We evaluated the impacts of these communication modes on pilot performance (flight time and communication latency) and subjective responses (workload and subjective feedback). Feedback regarding the messaging application and simulation facilities were also collected and will be described in the presentation.

Keywords: uam, communication, simplified vehicle operations

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004744

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