Development of Salivary NO₃⁻ Measurement Device for Navigators' Mental Workload

Abstract

The Evaluation of mental workload and performance usually depended on professionals, captain and pilot, who have a lot of experience on board. We are attempting to evaluate a ship navigator's mental workload using a physiological index. The physiological indices, heart rate variability (R-R interval), nasal temperature, and salivary amylase, are good indices for reading the mental workload in ship handling. In addition, we have found a possibility of salivary as a good index for evaluating the navigator's mental workload. The salivary is expected to have a specific characteristic to represent quick response on the spot and the trend like a moving average. We confirmed the response of students for simulator-based training, and we were carried out the experiments for professionals on a real ship. This research, to evaluate the mental workload of navigators using salivary , is first challenge worldwide. This paper proposes that the salivary is effective to measure navigators' mental workload for ship handling, and our devise is enough for the navigational research.

Keywords::

• Mental Workload
• Salivary
• Ship Handling
• Simulator Training
• Real Ship

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kenichi Kitamura

Kenichi Kitamura Graduate student of Kobe Univ. in Japan. His main research is Evaluation of mental workload in simulator-based and real ship handling using salivary .

Koji Murai

Koji Murai received his B.Sc., M.Sc. degrees from Kobe University of Merchnat Marine, Japan in 1992, 1995 and D.E. degree from Osaka University, Japan in 2003. He is currently an associate professor at the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University. His main research are Evaluation of mental workload in simulator-based and real ship handling using physiological index, Kansei, and Human factor of maritime field.

Nobuo Mitomo

Nobuo Mitomo Senior Researcher of National Maritime Institute (NMRI), Japan. Received D.E. Eng. degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan in 1992. His main research fields are Risk Assessment and Human Reliability Analysis.

Kenji Yoshimura

Kenji Yoshimura He is senior researcher in National Maritime Research Institute, Japan. He received Ph.D. degrees from Nihon University in 2003. And, He also received M.A. degrees from Rikkyo University in 1998. His main research field is Human Factors and Ergonomics in Safe Shipping.

Kenjiro Hikida

Kenjiro Hikida Researcher of National Maritime Institute (NMRI), Japan. His B.Eng. degrees from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan in 1993. His main research field are Human Factors of maritime field, data fusion of direct visual image and voyage information for mariners and analysis of maritime accidents.

Shin-Ichi Wakida

Shin-ichi Wakida received his B.Sc., M.Sc. degrees from Hiroshima University, Japan in 1980, 1982 and Dr. Eng. degree from The University of Tokyo, Japan in 1990. He is currently principal researcher in National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). His main research are MEMS based biosensors & Lab-on-a-Chip and their stress measurement application.

Takashi Miyado

Takashi Miyado received his Bachelor of Science degree from Okayama University of Science, Japan in 1998 and Master of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Kobe University, Japan in 2001, 2008. He is currently an instructor of chemistry in Department of Industrial Chemistry, Kinki Polytechnic College. His main research are measurements of changes in concentrations of salivary and in activities of daily living.

Keiichi Fukushi

Keiichi Fukushi received his B.Sc., M.Sc. degrees from Kobe University of Merchnat Marine, Japan in 1973, 1976 and Dr. in Science degree from Kobe University, Japan in 1989. He is currently a professor in Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University. His main research is application of capillary electrophoresis to seawater anlysis and the use of jellyfisf as a fertilizer for vegetables.

Yuji Hayashi

Yuji Hayashi Professor of Kobe Univ. in Japan. His main research interests are static navigational information which is to manage and control the database of integrated navigational information. The themes of his research are as follows, (1) A study of database for static navigational information (2) Problems of Japanese marine pilot education and training.