Identification of management and supervision critical tasks for a multi-effector automated system. An applied cognitive approach

Abstract: Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have opened up new possibilities for automation, particularly in dynamic, high-risk environments such as fighter aircraft operations. Pilots' activities will change considerably as a consequence. This will be particularly the case when fighter pilots have to manage and supervise the behaviour of future automated multi-effector systems in a post release phase. These systems will have the ability to adjust their own actions and will therefore become the pilot's partners, capable of interacting like real teammates. This capability is being explored using the theoretical concept of Human Autonomy Teaming (HAT). Recent studies in this field (O'Neil, 2022) point to the importance of several characteristics needed to establish and maintain this human-system cooperation. Exploratory research carried out within a French fighter squadron identified a set of tasks making up this new activity and linked to the use of these future multi-effector systems. This study highlighted two key issues: (i) the need to measure the importance of each task in relation to the overall mission, and (ii) the relevance of quantifying the reduction in mental effort enabled by the automation of these tasks. Our current study focused on identifying the tasks assessed as critical by fighter pilots when using these multi-effector systems in post release phase. We also aimed to determine which tasks would benefit from automation, in order to reduce the cognitive cost without compromising operational performance. To this end, we immersed 21 pilots in the scenario of an air operation, including the tasks inherent in managing the multi-effector system after release. The pilots assessed the criticality of each task for the success of the mission and estimated the mental effort required for each operating mode - which increasingly incorporate automation. In order to reveal the potential cognitive benefits of automation of each task. These operating modes were adapted from the cooperation modes (Hoc, 2006). Our results show significant differences in criticality and in the mental effort required, depending on the task and the level of automation. These findings make it possible to identify a set of tasks linked to the management of the firing plan as priorities for the integration of automation into new weapon systems. This research underlines the imperative of understanding both the cognitive and operational needs of pilots in this technological evolution for effective cooperation between the human and the system in high-risk environments.

Keywords: Fighter pilots, swarm, management, supervision, mental effort, criticality

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005013

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