Expert-based design and evaluation of an ambient light display to improve monitoring performance during multi-UAV supervisory control

In complex supervisory control settings, inadequate monitoring behavior is a substantial source of human error and a risk factor threatening human life and the environment. In this paper, we present a problem-oriented approach to support a commander supervising multiple highly-automated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to perform adequate monitoring behavior. Our approach utilizes an ambient light display (ALD) to continuously externalize the commander's monitoring performance using ambient visual cues in the peripheral field. We designed and evaluated our prototype with experts. Our results indicate that our prototype can support adequate monitoring behavior of a commander supervising multiple UAVs, and does not affect workload.