Interactive Effects of Backup Behavior and Spatial Abilities in the Prediction of Teammate Workload Using Multiple Unmanned Vehicles

Abstract

This study examined the interactive effects of spatial ability and team process on operator workload, while using multiple unmanned vehicles. The hypotheses also focused on how these effects might change when using different measures of spatial ability. In order to examine this, the Guilford-Zimmerman Spatial Visualization and Spatial Orientation scores of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator and navigation support provided by this UAV operator to an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) operator were used as variables predicting UGV operator workload while performing a reconnaissance task. Results indicated that the interaction of the “guider's” spatial visualization and navigation support and the interaction between spatial orientation and navigation support not only accounted for unique variances in the prediction of his/her teammate's workload, but they also produced qualitatively different patterns of results. In identifying these unique contributions, the importance of using multiple spatial ability measures in (unmanned vehicle) research is highlighted.