Effects of Crew-Aiding Behaviors on Soldier Performance During Target Engagement Tasks in a Virtual Battlefield Simulation

摘要

This research examined the impact of crew-aiding behaviors (CABs) on Soldier workload, stress, situation awareness, and performance in a laboratory setting. Specifically, this experiment examined the effectiveness of CABs designed to prioritize targets (based on threat level and proximity) and provide weapons platform and munition recommendations to service each target. This condition was compared with a NoCAB or manual condition in which participants performed the same task of prioritizing and engaging targets without the use of the CABs. Results showed that CABs significantly reduced time and workload when participants conducted the task of prioritizing and engaging targets. Participants took significantly less time to complete the prioritization and engagement task when using CABs versus when they performed the same task manually (i.e., the NoCAB condition). Overall task time was reduced by 36% when CABs were used. Overall workload, as well as the subscales of mental, temporal, and effort workload, were significantly reduced when CABs were used. Overall workload was 28% less when CABs were used versus when they were not. Mental and temporal workload were both 46% less when CABs were used versus when they were not, and effort workload was 36% less when were used versus when they were not.