Interface for Augmenting Spatial Orientation of Pilots via Low Cognitive Load, Peripheral Vision

Untrained pilots flying in reduced visibility are at a high risk of losing control of a small aircraft when using typical instrumentation. The reduced visibility makes it impossible for the pilot to see outside references, which increases the workload and cognitive stress on the pilot. An advanced visual interface that focuses on the use of non-central vision to allow pilots to feel rather than compute the basic spatial orientation of their small aircraft is presented in this paper. To promote our goal of reducing the pilot's cognitive load, the interface is controlled by a single input button in addition to the routine controls of the aircraft. The visual display aims to provide an immersive experience to the user, while not relying on the pilot's central focus of attention. Thus, the user can fully exploit and focus their attention on any available instrumentation and technology present in the cockpit, such as glass displays, synthetic or enhanced vision, GPS devices, with our interface offering an additional layer of awareness. The visualization provides both instantaneous and trend information to the user. A preliminary user study that revealed additional future improvements to the visual display is also briefly described.