PERSPECTIVE INFORMATION IN THE COCKPIT AS A TARGET ACQUISITION AID

In a simulator experiment, the potential benefits of perspective radar displays for situation awareness support were investigated. A target acquisition task was used in which fighter pilots were required to loc ate and intercept a target. The pilots were supported by a conventiona l plan-view radar display, or by two types of perspective exocentric r adar displays-with outside-in or inside-out motion reference. Task per formance was measured in terms of target acquisition time, tracking ac curacy, and workload. The results indicated that pilots were able to p erform the target acquisition task much faster when a perspective rada r display was used, irrespective of the initial target position. With inside-out motion reference, the acquisition time was reduced by nearl y 50% as compared with the plan-view display. Experimental results and implications of the use of perspective radar displays in cockpits are discussed.