The Effects of Autonomy and Cognitive Abilities on Workload and Supervisory Control of Unmanned Systems

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the influence of autonomy and cognitive ability on workload in unmanned systems. First, we outline prior research regarding the role of autonomy and operator selection in decreasing workload in the realm of human-robot interaction. Next, we discuss two aspects of cognitive ability (i.e., visualization and perceptual speed) explain differences between these constructs, and their influence on workload. Then, we describe the current study and discuss the effects of varying levels of autonomy, visualization, and perceptual speed on workload in a simulated reconnaissance mission. Finally, we explore the implications of our findings in terms of the influence of autonomy and operator selection and provide suggestions for future research.