Project Title:

Recording Pilot Eye Movement Information on a Digital Flight Data Recorder

03.04-4100
Recording Pilot Eye Movement Information on a Digital Flight Data Recorder
Analytics
2500 Maryland Road
Willow Grove
PA
19090
Deimler
James
18211
49,899
LaRC

Abstract:

The modern Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) provides an opportunity to capture
in-flight data never possible with the older analog "tin-foil" type recorder.  Additionally,
the DFDR permits sophisticated data reduction and correlation of numerous parameters.
 Although the DFDR is primarily oriented toward accident investigation, its high
capacity extends its usefulness beyond that into the domain of crew performance,
physiological response, and workload assessment.
	The concept of collecting data on pilot eye response using an oculometer and recording
that data on the Digital Flight Data Recorder for subsequent analysis can be met
by examining the four issues:  (1) Is it technically feasible to collect eye movement
data in a cockpit environment using an oculometer? (2) Is the modern Digital Flight
Data Recorder capable of recording processed oculometer data?; (3) How useful is
pilot eye movement data in accident investigation or reconstruction?; (4) What other
uses exist for data pilot eye movement gathered during actual flight conditions (e.g.,
workload analysis, scan pattern analysis, response to visual cues)?