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Fatigue is a major concern for aviation. Sleep related fatigue has been thoroughly investigated and regulated, while modern automation systems are considered the remedy for mental fatigue. However, taskload reduction due to automation can lead to passive fatigue (PF), a state characterised by low task engagement and allocation of cognitive resources away from the task. PF, even though associated with performance decrements, has been relatively under researched in the aviation field. Particularly, in relation to its impact on situation awareness (SA), which is critical for decision-making. This study investigated the longitudinal effects of underload (i.e., PF) and overload upon SA in 1-hour flight simulation scenarios. A sample of 15 non-pilot participants completed the scenarios where subjective workload (NASA-TLX), SA (SAGAT), and task engagement (SSSQ) were measured. Physiologically indices were collected via eye-tracking and electroencephalograph (EEG) measurements. In-keeping with attention resource theories, SAGAT measured SA scores were lower for the overload condition, which was also associated with higher subjective and EEG metrics of workload and task engagement. Despite underload inducing subjective fatigue (as confirmed by the KSS), SAGAT scores remained high and stable over time–likely driven by the participants’ maintenance of subjective motivation (measured by the SSSQ). The results of this study suggest that adequate levels of SA can be maintained during PF evoked conditions if motivation and task engagement are sufficiently retained, in order to preserve the suitable allocation of cognitive resources. This is in contrast to the overload conditions, where SA is hindered by the shear unavailability of resources to attain SA due to task load demands. Therefore, to achieve high SA in underloaded / passive fatigue contexts it is pivotal that motivation/task engagement should be ensured. Future research should investigate these results, and specifically the sensitivity and accuracy of these physiological markers, within a representative pilot sample.

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A Comparison of Underload and Overload Upon Situation Awareness in Commercial Aviation: Combining Subjective, Objective, and Physiological Measurements

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Konstantinos Pouloupatis,
  • Fahad Khan,
  • Seemal Asif,
  • James Blundell

摘要

Fatigue is a major concern for aviation. Sleep related fatigue has been thoroughly investigated and regulated, while modern automation systems are considered the remedy for mental fatigue. However, taskload reduction due to automation can lead to passive fatigue (PF), a state characterised by low task engagement and allocation of cognitive resources away from the task. PF, even though associated with performance decrements, has been relatively under researched in the aviation field. Particularly, in relation to its impact on situation awareness (SA), which is critical for decision-making. This study investigated the longitudinal effects of underload (i.e., PF) and overload upon SA in 1-hour flight simulation scenarios. A sample of 15 non-pilot participants completed the scenarios where subjective workload (NASA-TLX), SA (SAGAT), and task engagement (SSSQ) were measured. Physiologically indices were collected via eye-tracking and electroencephalograph (EEG) measurements. In-keeping with attention resource theories, SAGAT measured SA scores were lower for the overload condition, which was also associated with higher subjective and EEG metrics of workload and task engagement. Despite underload inducing subjective fatigue (as confirmed by the KSS), SAGAT scores remained high and stable over time–likely driven by the participants’ maintenance of subjective motivation (measured by the SSSQ). The results of this study suggest that adequate levels of SA can be maintained during PF evoked conditions if motivation and task engagement are sufficiently retained, in order to preserve the suitable allocation of cognitive resources. This is in contrast to the overload conditions, where SA is hindered by the shear unavailability of resources to attain SA due to task load demands. Therefore, to achieve high SA in underloaded / passive fatigue contexts it is pivotal that motivation/task engagement should be ensured. Future research should investigate these results, and specifically the sensitivity and accuracy of these physiological markers, within a representative pilot sample.