AUTOMATION, TASK-DIFFICULTY, AND AIRCREW PERFORMANCE

The effects of an automated system on team processes and performance w ere assessed in a laboratory simulation. Two-person crews were require d to fly a complex emergency-response scenario under conditions of low and high workload. These flights were completed with or without the a id of an autopilot. The results indicated that the autopilot was effec tive in reducing subjective workload. However, the automation was asso ciated with improved performance on only 1 of 4 performance measures. Furthermore, it was observed that problem-solving performance was wors e in the autopilot condition during the high-workload flights. Investi gation of crew process data indicated that workload savings afforded b y the autopilot might have been invested in more explicit coordination . The results are discussed in terms of their implications for militar y aviators' performance, system design, and team training.