Human Factors Guidelines for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Remote Pilot Stations (RPS)
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Human factors guidelines for remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) remote pilot stations (RPS). Addressing the unique human factors considerations associated with beyond visual line-of-sight operation of remotely piloted aircraft in civil airspace. Guidelines version 1.1 Supersedes Human Factors Guidelines for Unmanned Aircraft System Ground Control Stations, Preliminary Guidelines 1.0. Contractor Report prepared for NASA UAS in the NAS Project July 2016 Alan Hobbs, Ph.D. Beth Lyall, Ph.D. San Jose State University Research Research Integrations, Inc. Foundation/NASA Ames Research Center [email protected] [email protected] Authors’ note This document has been prepared for NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) Project. It contains a list of human factors guidelines for remote pilot stations (RPS) arranged within an organizing structure. The Federal Aviation Administration, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and other agencies are working to develop operational concepts and standards to enable remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to operate routinely in the civil airspace system. Our objective was to compile human factors guidelines for RPA operations in US airspace, however we hope that our work will also be useful internationally. It was not our intention to list all human factors guidelines relevant to the RPS, as this would involve replicating a large number of existing guidelines for cockpit design and other human system interfaces. Instead, the guidelines contained in this document are intended to supplement the existing human factors literature by focusing on the unique aspects of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and the capabilities and characteristics of the RPS that will be necessary to enable these aircraft to operate routinely in the civil airspace system. The reader should note that these guidelines address remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) that are capable of operating beyond visual line-of-sight (VLOS) in all classes of civil airspace. We do not address RPA that are operated under the FAA regulations for “small UAS” (14 CFR Part 107) or that are operated entirely by visual reference of the pilot. These guidelines will be revised and updated periodically as information becomes available from research, reader comments, and operational experience. Comments or questions can be sent to us via the email addresses on the title page of this document. Alan Hobbs, Ph.D. Beth Lyall, Ph.D. San Jose State University Research Research Integrations, Inc. Foundation/NASA Ames Research Center Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 List of abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Definition of terms ........................................................................................................................................ 6 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Scope of the current activity ............................................................................................................... 9 2. GUIDELINES AND THE SPECIAL CHALLENGES OF RPAS OPERATIONS ..................................................... 11 2.1 FAA assumptions ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Special considerations of RPAS ......................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Loss of natural sensing ............................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Control and communication via radio link ................................................................................. 16 2.2.3 The unique environment of the remote pilot station ................................................................ 18 2.2.4 In-flight transfer of control ........................................................................................................ 19 2.2.5 Flight characteristics of remotely piloted aircraft ..................................................................... 19 2.2.6 Flight termination ...................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.7 Reliance on automation ............................................................................................................. 20 2.2.8 Widespread use of interfaces based on consumer products .................................................... 21 3. SOURCES AND TYPES OF GUIDELINES ..................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Overview of existing guidelines ........................................................................................................ 22 3.2 Types of guidelines ............................................................................................................................ 22 3.2.1 Pilot tasks that must be performed via the interface ................................................................ 23 3.2.2 Information content of displays ................................................................................................. 24 3.2.3 Control inputs ............................................................................................................................ 24 3.2.4 Properties of the human-machine interface ............................................................................. 24 3.2.5 General guidelines ..................................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Remote pilot responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 25 4. GUIDELINES ............................................................................................................................................. 28 4.1. Aviate ............................................................................................................................................... 29 4.1.1 Monitor and control aircraft systems ........................................................................................ 29 4.1.2 Monitor consumable resources ................................................................................................. 30 4.1.3 Monitor and configure control station. ..................................................................................... 31 4.1.4 Maneuver to avoid collisions with other aircraft or terrain. .................................................... 31 4.1.5 Monitor and control status of links ........................................................................................... 32 1 4.1.6 Transfer control ......................................................................................................................... 35 4.2 Navigate ............................................................................................................................................ 37 4.2.1 Control and monitor location and flight path of aircraft. ......................................................... 37 4.2.2 Remain clear of terrain, airspace boundaries and weather...................................................... 38 4.2.3 Remain well-clear of other aircraft ........................................................................................... 40 4.2.4 Review and refresh lost link mission as necessary. .................................................................. 40 4.2.5 Terminate flight ......................................................................................................................... 41 4.3 Communicate .................................................................................................................................... 42 4.3.1 & 4.3.2 Communicate with ATC and other airspace users....................................................... 43 4.3.3 Communicate with other RPAS flight crew and ground support personnel............................. 44 4.3.4 Communicate with ancillary services ........................................................................................ 45 4.4 General guidelines ............................................................................................................................ 45 4.3 Summary list of guidelines ................................................................................................................ 55 4.4 Guidelines organized by type ............................................................................................................ 66 4.4.1 Task-related guidelines .............................................................................................................. 66 4.4.2 Information-related guidelines .................................................................................................. 69 4.4.3 Control-related guidelines ......................................................................................................... 72 4.4.4 Guidelines relating to properties of the interface ....................................................................