ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the workload and performance of the robotics operator in a simulated military reconnaissance environment. Two types of tasking environments were simulated, one with only the robotics task and the other with multiple tasks. In the multi-tasking environment, the operator also had to concurrently perform gunnery and communication tasks. It simulates a generic mounted crewstation environment and conducted a series of four experiments to examine the workload and performance of the robotics operator in either a single-tasking or a multi-tasking environment. The chapter also examines how individual difference factors such as spatial ability (SpA) and perceived attentional control (PAC) were related to the operator's task performance. The understanding of the robotics operator's performance and workload is key to successful operation of robotic assets, which are an important part of the US Army's current force and will be an essential part in the Army's future force.
