1. Human Factors Research in
Unmanned Aerial Systems
Lisa Jo Elliott, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Human Factors Engineer
ljelliott@usf.edu

2. Briefing.
• Importance of Human Factors research in UAS
• Breadth of research problems
• Challenges to continued research
• Toward solutions

3. Importance of HF in UAS
• Safety- Large UA systems safety is a fraction
of manned aircraft.
• Standardization- Controls, System
Behavior, types and behavior of automation
differs by manufacturer and system.
• Operators- who makes the best operators?

4. Breadth of Research Problems
Class Payload Operators Use Visual Who
1-Micro UAS Sensors One Observation, External All
external Firefighting… Observers
2-Mini UAS Sensors One Observation and External All
external detection, Observers
Agriculture…
3- Tactical Sensors, At least Observation, External All
UAS small external, detection and Observers,
payload internal some action Chase Plane
4- HALE Unlimited More than All, flight restricted Chase Plane Gov’t or
two Industry
5- UCAS unlimited Many all, flight restricted Chase Plane Gov’t

5. Research Problems- Human Side
Large Systems Small Systems
• Cannot see the plane with • Can see the plane but few
many controls, many controls and single operator
operators with different roles.
• Situation Awareness
• Teams & Communication
• Secondary Control
• Automation
• Cognitive Reversals
• Selection, Training, Simulation
• Psychosocial Issues • Perceptual Judgments
• Vigilance and fatigue • Detect, Sense, and Avoid
• NAS Integration • Multiple UAS
• Sensor Data… • Selection, Training…

6. Research Problems- System side
Large Systems Small Systems
• Survivability of System $$$ • Control Station Design
• Loss of Link • Control of multiple UAS
• System Design (control • Interoperability
station, external view).
• Detect, Sense, and Avoid
• Communication
• Automation • Communication with
ATC, NOTAM, live feed
• Vigilance and fatigue
• Alienation of host • Loss of Link
populations • Sensor Data
• Sensor Data • NAS integration

7. Research Problems and Findings
- Dr. Yu Zhang
- Small UAS for Agriculture
- NMSU-PSL UAS FTC
Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems Book
Observer Perception
Control Reversal
Task Load Index Subjective Workload for UAS
- Human Factors and Ergonomic Society
- www.hfes.org

8. Challenges & Solutions
• Challenges • Toward Solutions
• System cost • Open source simulation
• FAA COA platforms for research
• Funding Mechanisms- • Clearer guidance on COA
contracts, few grants for Research
• Flight Test Centers – • National Robotics
Population Density Initiative
• FAA Flight Test Centers