Evaluation of Playbook Delegation Approach in Human-Autonomy Teaming for Single Pilot Operations

ABSTRACT

A Playbook delegation approach was evaluated for human-autonomy teaming (HAT) in Single Pilot Operations (SPO). In SPO, a single pilot makes flight decisions, performs flight tasks, and collaborates with an autonomous teammate. The autonomous teammate shares responsibility, authority, and tasks. Challenges include the design of functions, interactions, and teaming skills. HAT often requires the ability to dynamically allocate functions, and timely methods to accurately express intent to teammates. A Playbook delegation interface was developed to enables the pilot to call and modify plays in collaboration with the autonomous teammate. Twenty pilots evaluated the Playbook interface to explore real-time function allocation, and identified teaming skills needed to support HAT. Pilots preferred the Playbook interface for better collaboration with the autonomous teammate. Interviews revealed that supporting human-like communication in HAT is critical to facilitate decision-making. Four major teaming skills (communication, coordination, cooperation, and cognition) are discussed to support HAT in SPO.

KEYWORDS:

• Single pilot operations
• Playbook interface
• Delegation interface
• Dynamic
• function allocation
• Human-autonomy team

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins) under the NSF Center for e-Design (Award number: 1238335).

Notes on contributors

Güliz Tokadlı

Güliz Tokadlı is a Ph.D. candidate in Adaptive Cognitive Systems Laboratory at Iowa State University. She received a BS in Astronautical Engineering - Istanbul Technical University, 2013 and an MS in Aerospace Engineering - Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015. Her research interests focus on human-autonomy teaming, and decision support systems.

Michael C. Dorneich

Michael C. Dorneich is an Associate Professor at Iowa State University. He earned his PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include adaptive human-machine systems, human-autonomy teaming, and intelligent tutoring. He holds 27 patents. He has authored over 180 journal articles, book chapters, and refereed conference papers.

Michael Matessa

Michael Matessa is a Senior Systems Engineer/Cognitive Scientist at Collins Aerospace. He earned his PhD at Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests include human-autonomy teaming, reduced crew operations, and crew resource management. He has published over 100 journal articles, book chapters, and refereed conference proceedings papers.