ABSTRACT
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control, whether by direct teleoperation or supervisory techniques, requires a high level of situation awareness (SA). At present, this awareness is formed and maintained by means of visual displays and monaural auditory warnings. Research on binaural hearing suggests that humans use the auditory modality for both the development and maintenance of SA in natural environments. It is reasonable to assume, then, that this capacity can be leveraged in UAV operational environments through the use of spatial audio display technology. The purpose of this paper is to suggest spatial audio display concepts that may enhance SA for UAV operators. This will be accomplished by examining potential deficits in SA at each level of Endsley’s model (1988; 1995a) and proposing particular display concepts that might reduce these deficits. Implications for SA research on spatial audio displays will also be addressed.
