Touch-and-Go: Interior Tactile Communication in Armored Fighting Vehicles

Abstract

In armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), the vehicle commander (VC) and crew communicate through an audio system that all crew members inside the AFV can hear. This can be distracting and inconvenient, especially for effective communication between the VC and the driver. We assessed the feasibility and usability of a tactile system for direct communication between the VC and the driver in addition to (or instead of) the existing auditory system. Field experiment results show that, with or without auditory commands, tactile cues can be utilized to direct AFV drivers during operational tasks. Hence, specific design and implementation of a tactile interface should be considered for internal communication traffic.