Treffer: Comparative analysis of touchscreen inceptors and traditional sidesticks on flight decks: flight performance, visual behaviours and situation awareness.

Title:
Comparative analysis of touchscreen inceptors and traditional sidesticks on flight decks: flight performance, visual behaviours and situation awareness.
Authors:
Wang Y; Safety and Accident Investigation Centre, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK., Korek WT; Dynamics, Simulator and Control Group, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, U.K., Blundell J; Safety and Accident Investigation Centre, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK., Li WC; Safety and Accident Investigation Centre, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK.
Source:
Ergonomics [Ergonomics] 2026 Feb; Vol. 69 (2), pp. 267-291. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Feb 12.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Comparative Study
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0373220 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1366-5847 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00140139 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ergonomics Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: London, Taylor & Francis.
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Flight deck design; human-computer interactions; situation awareness; touchscreen inceptor; visual behaviours
Local Abstract: [plain-language-summary] Integrating the touchscreen inceptor into the PFD is an attempt to expand the application of the touchscreen in the flight deck and to explore the human-system integration mode of the future flight deck. Although the touchscreen inceptor cannot match the sidestick’s performance, it has a potential impact on the pilot’s situation awareness supply and attention allocation.
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250212 Date Completed: 20260120 Latest Revision: 20260120
Update Code:
20260121
DOI:
10.1080/00140139.2025.2459305
PMID:
39937173
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

The concept of touchscreen primary control device is a novel approach of touchcreen implentation. The objective of this study is to investigate differences in flight performance and attention allocation between a touchscreen inceptor and a traditional sidestick. Twenty-one participants flew four simulated instrument landing system (ILS) approaches - with the touchscreen inceptor or traditional sidestick - during flight scenarios where an aircraft attitude disturbance was either present or absent. Results demonstrated that participant performance scores were worse with the touchscreen inceptor compared to the sidestick during attitude disturbance scenarios. Interestingly, participants exhibited reduced attention to external visual cues with the touchscreen inceptor compared to the sidestick. In addition, use of the touchscreen inceptor resulted in lower performance and lower self-reported situation awareness. Overall, the touchscreen inceptor demonstrated poorer performance compared to the traditional sidestick, highlighting limitations in its current design that warrant cautious consideration and further investigation.