U. S. Department of Transportation

A human performance study was conducted at the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) using a locomotive research simulator-the Cab Technology Integration Laboratory (CTIL)-that wasacquired by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The primary objective of the studywas to conducta hands-on simulator training exercise and system demonstration. A moving map experiment was chosen for the study because FRA is interested indetermining the human performance and safety implications of this technology following prior FRA research on preview information in cab displays (Einhorn, Sheridan & Multer, 2005). However, because surrogate (novice) engineers were used for the experiment instead of experienced locomotive engineers, the resultshave limited applicability. Lessons learned and general best practices for designing and running future CTIL experiments are discussedin this report. Possibilities for future research regarding operator use of moving map displays are also considered.

Data Comm a text-based controller-pilotcommunication system is critical to many NextGen improvements. With DataComm, communication becomesa visual task. Interacting with a visual Data Comm display may yield an unsafe increase in head-down time, particularly for single-pilot operations. This study examined the feasibility of supplementing Data Comm with syntheticspeech. To this end, thirty-two pilots flew two experimental scenariosin a Cessna 172 Flight Training Device. In one scenario, ATC communication was with a text-only Data Comm display, in the other, communication was with a text Data Comm display with synthetic speech that read aloud each message (i.e., text+speech). Pilots heard traffic with similar call signs on the party line and received a conditional clearance (in both scenarios); in either scenario, pilots received a clearance that was countermanded by a live controller. Results indicated that relative tothe text-only display, the text speech display aided single-pilot performance by reducing head-down time, and may have prevented participants from acting early on the conditional clearance. Supplementing text Data Comm with speech did not introduce additional complications: participants were neithermore likely to erroneously respond to similar call signs, nor to ignore a live ATC voice countermand