Quality of Training Effectiveness Assessment (QTEA)

Obejctive:

Devlop technologies that allow for real time analysis of a pilot's workload by using physiological and cognitive data, flight technical, and mission specific data. Knowledge a pilot's workload can inform the instructor if the task is too difficult or too easy; incorporationg phsyiological measurements along with objective and subjective measures instructors will be able to determine the effectiveness of their training.

Research Methods:

Cognitive Avionics Tool Set (CATS)

The Cognitive Avionics Tool Set is a powerful software program that is used to provide real-time data exploration and analysis to support effective operator state feedback. The toolset has been designed so that OPL can incorporate physiological measurements and flight information such as data from the Air Data Computer (ADC), Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), system switches, and mission data. The program also allows users to "relive" the events that the aircraft undergoes in a virtual setting. The software even has the ability to recreate the instrument panel. Below is a diagram of the Hardware Architecture that is deployed on the Computerized Airborne Research Platform (CARP). The CARP was used along with the Instrumented Lexus to test the CATS architecture.

Physiological Sensors

OPL is using the following technologies to measure physiological characteristics for real-time pilot state assessment:

Eye and Head Tracking	Video cameras and image processing can be used to determine the pilot's head and eye position. This can provide insight into pilot awareness and help determine how a pilot is acquiring information.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)	ECG technology is able to monitor the activity of the heart. This can be related to a pilot's stress levels through singal processing algorithms.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)	The EEG can provide information on the physiological state of the brain by measuring brainwaves.
Electromyogram (EMG)	Muscle tension in certain muscle groups can be related to stress and concentration. The masseter is of paticular interest because the group is highly activated during extreme levels of stress and concentration.
Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)	This type of sensor can measure the way skin conducts electricity between two points. It is usually done on the hands, and correlates well with a pilot's stress and anxiety level.
SPO₂	Optical sensors are used to measure the oxygen saturation in the blood stream; this allows for the analysis of high stress levels due to increased oxygen consumption.
Factial Thermography	Thermal camreas are able to measure blood flow within the face. Facial blood flow correlates to workband and stress.
Phototrode^TM	Senor that can pick up bio-potential through clothing.
Pulse Wave	Allows for the measure of a pilot's pulse wave propogation. This correlates to arterial stiffness.
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (FNIRS)	Allows for the measurement of blood oxygenation in the brain.

Simulators

OPL has the ability to use a wide variety of simulators for QTEA.

Alion ATAS Desktop Simulator
One Channel	Three Channel
OPL Jet Procedure Trainer with ATAS
One Channel	Three Channel	Cockpit
OPL Full Flight Deck Simulator with Wrap-Around Visuals

OPL Cognitive Delfin (COD) L-29 Flight Test Aircraft with ATAS

QTEA Handout

The QTEA One Sheet can be found here.