Response to Acoustic Sounds and Synthesized Speech in an Automated Cockpit Checklist

Acoustic sounds have been reasonably effective as brief aural cues within cockpit systems, serving to alert pilots about the configuration and performance of the aircraft. However, these sounds do not establish an intuitive connection between the alert and its intended function, leading to an initial learning curve in grasping their auditory significance. In contrast, synthesized speech is more pliable for comprehension and has gained popularity in applications such as virtual assistants and sat-nav communication. With cockpit automation advancing towards single-pilot operations, communication by cockpit systems requires consideration. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate and validate the impact of both acoustic sounds and synthesized speech in this setting. A human-in-the-loop experiment was conducted in an aircraft simulator environment, involving participants with diverse ages and levels of experience, to evaluate the response time for an automated checklist annunciating callouts in the form of acoustic sounds and synthesized speech. The results indicated that the response time, for the aural checklist callouts, had been influenced by anticipation, habituation, and familiarity with a scenario rather than the type of aural alert. Anticipation and habituation in unfamiliar scenarios had led to inappropriate responses to spurious alerts irrespective of the type of alert.