Cognitive Control Levels in Air Traffic Radar Controller Activity

摘要

Classically, cognitive control is conceived as a set of levels activated according to certain psychological or situational conditions. However, studies on process supervision and a recent theoretical model suggest the possibility of a parallel activation on different control levels. We have analyzed the en route radar controller activity of conflict detection and resolution. Variables included aircraft position drawings during simulation freezing periods and temporal relations between activity steps and air traffic temporal dynamics. Data show evidence for a distinction between drawings indicating anticipatory mental representations and an accurate synchronization of cognition with the air traffic dynamics. Inferences are drawn for the design of a new support tool capable of implementing controllers' abstract action plans.