Critical attributes and skills for safe unmanned aerial vehicle pilots
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¶ … Human Factors Affecting Safe
Operation Of The UAV
Study of Selected Human Factors affecting safe operation of the UAV
This chapter presents the findings of the thesis. The survey questionnaires are collected from the 35 respondents. The data are collected to test the following hypotheses:
Ho: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that the possession of computer skills and the lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
H2:"UAV pilots believe that the possession of computer skills and the lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
The findings are presented in the tabular and graphical forms. The descriptive statistics is used to summarize the findings and the inferential statistics is used to conclude on the findings based on the data collected. The data collected supports the first null hypothesis and rejects the first research hypothesis. However, the data supports the second research hypothesis and rejects the second null hypothesis.
Chapter 4: Findings
This chapter provides the findings of the thesis. The data collected are summarized using the descriptive statistics. The study also presents the inferential statistics that provides the conclusion of the whole data. The inferential statistics allows the researcher to test the hypotheses and generates the research findings. Based on the data collected, the data are analyzed and summarized using the graphs and tables. With the presentation from the graphs and tables, the researcher is able to provide the accurate picture of the findings and testing the hypotheses.
Descriptive Statistics
Table 19 provides the descriptive statistics, which reveals the summary of the findings. In the descriptive statistical table, standard deviation and means of all data are summarized. The descriptive statistics also summarizes the findings in percentages, which enables the researcher to present the findings in tabular and graphical forms. From the data collected and analyzed, the study supports the first null hypothesis, and rejects the first research hypothesis. The findings reveal that the data do not provide statistical significant to support the first research hypothesis. However, the study supports the second research hypothesis and rejects the second null hypothesis based on the data collected.
Inferential Statistics
The study uses the inferential statistics to infer the probability of using the data to test the hypotheses. The total number of 88 survey questionnaires is distributed; however, the researcher is able to collect 81 from the total 88 survey distributed to the respondents. 50 of the respondents filled out all the survey questionnaires. After analyzing the 50 survey questionnaires, there are suspected bias in the answers of the 15 respondents. Since the study intends to generate valid and reliable findings, the researcher discards the 10 survey questionnaires that contain suspected bias, and 35 filled survey questionnaires are finally accepted. Table 1 and Fig 1 present the summary of the survey finally accepted and used to generate the research findings.
Table 1: Summary of the Survey
Survey
Survey Collected
Percentages of survey collected
Total Number of Survey Distributed
88
Number of Survey Collected
81
92.05%
Survey completely filled out
50
56.82%
Number of Suspected Bias
15
17.04%
Accepted Returned Survey
35
39.77%
Fig 1: Summary of Survey Collected
Survey Questions and Findings
The first sub-problem is to identify and rank the most important experiences that the Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) pilots must possess to operate safely based on the perceptions of the UAV pilots.
The first five questions rate the possible attributes of the UAV pilots. The questions are scaled and a numerical value is assigned to each question where 1 is scaled not very important and 5 scaled very important with the possible responses as follow:
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
The descriptive analysis is used to accomplish the first order. The descriptive analysis is able to identify the kind of distribution resulted for each question, and whether a second order analysis is essential.
Based on the Likert scale, the questions are as follows:
For a UAV pilot to demonstrate effective aviation safety, he or she should be a:
Question 1: Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT)
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 2:
Question 1:
Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT)
Scale
Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Frequency
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
6
17.14%
6
2.914
1.40101
2: Not Important
10
28.57%
16
3: Not Sure
7
20%
23
4: Important
5
14.29%
28
5: Very Important
7
20%
35
Based on the findings of the statement, it is revealed that 16 respondents believe that graduating from the undergraduate training school is not important to demonstrate effective aviation safety while 12 respondents believe that it is important. Although, 7 respondents are not sure based on their response. Based on the percentages of the findings, it is revealed that 45.71% of the respondents agree that it is not important. While around 34.29% agree that it is important. Although, 20% of the respondents are not sure.
Table 2 and Fig 2 provide the summary of the findings of the question 1.
Fig 2: Illustration of the Findings of Question 1
Question 2
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a Pilot should be Under 40 years old
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 3:
Question 2: Pilot should be Under 40 years old
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
15
15
43.86
2.057
1.1099
2: Not Important
8
23
22.86
3: Not Sure
7
30
20
4: Important
5
35
14.28
5: Very Important
0
35
0
Fig 3: Findings Pilot should be under 40
Based on the findings, it is revealed 66.72% of the respondents agree that to be under 40 is not important to demonstrate the effective aviation safety. Typically, only 34.28% of the respondents agree that to be under 40 years is important to demonstrate the effective aviation safety. The findings of the respondents of the survey question 2 supports the first null hypothesis and reject the first research hypothesis.
Question 3
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should have a:
Have a minimum of 100 flying hours.
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 4:
Question 3: Have a minimum of 100 flying hours.
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
7
7
20
3.2
1.549
2: Not Important
5
12
14.29
3: Not Sure
9
21
25.71
4: Important
2
23
5.72
5: Very Important
12
35
34.28
Fig 4: Having Minimum of 100 Flying Hours
Based on the findings, it is revealed that 34% of the respondents believe that it is not important while 40% of the respondents agree that it is important. However, the 25% of the respondents are not sure. Based on the findings from the survey, it is revealed that larger number of respondents believe that it is important to have minimum of 100 flying hours before demonstrating effective aviation safety.
Based on the results of the data presented, the paper presents whether the findings support the first null or alternative hypothesis.
Findings of the First Null and Alternative Hypotheses
Findings of the survey questions 1, 2 and question 3 assist the study to test the first null hypothesis that states:
H0: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Findings of the survey questions 1, 2 and question 3 also assist the study to test the first alternative hypothesis that states:
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
To test the first null hypothesis, paper employs p-value, which is the level of statistical test to obtain the probability of observed difference and whether null hypothesis is true. The p-value is the probability of obtaining observed differences in the sampling variation. Conventionally, a p-value should be greater than 0.05 (5%) to accept the null hypothesis. However, the Chi-square is used to test the probability of the obverted difference between two variables, which reflects the p-value probability.
To test the first null hypothesis, it is essential to provide the summary statistics of the findings of the first 3 survey questions as revealed in the Table 5.
Table 5: Summary of the Findings of Survey Question 1, 2 and 3
Survey
Survey Questions
Mean
Standard Deviation
% of Important
% Not important
% Not Sure
1
Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT
2.914
1.40101
34.29%
45.71%
20
2
Pilot should be Under 40 years old
2.057
1.1099
34.28%
66.72
0
3
Having Minimum of 100 Flying Hours
3.2
1.549
40%
34.29
25.71
Total
Mean %
36.19
48.91
Mean Difference
12.72
Fig 5: Bar Chart Comparing Responses of Survey 1, 2 and 3
Based on the findings in the Fig 5, it is revealed that the second survey, which indicates that a Pilot should be under 40 years to demonstrate the effective aviation safety, supports the first null hypothesis and rejects the first alternative hypothesis. From the bar graph in Fig 5, 66.72% of the respondents agree that to be fewer than 40 is not important to demonstrate the effective aviation safety, and 34.28% of the respondents agree that it is important to be under 40 years to demonstrate the effective aviation safety. From the descriptive in the Table 19, the respondents of the survey question 2 and 3 support the first null hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis.
Based on the findings, the study supports the first null hypothesis that states:
H0: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
However, the study rejects the first research hypothesis that states:
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Valenti et al. (2004) support the findings of the first hypothesis by pointing out that the major objective of the UAV is to execute mission without human interaction. UAV is remotely controlled aircraft where the pre-programmed flight plans are being controlled by complex dynamic automation systems. UAV is typically developed for number of mission including attack roles. UAV is also developed to eliminate the dangerous missions being carried out by the pilots of the manned aircrafts. In carrying out some of the missions, many pilots have lost their lives in the enemy combat, while some pilots have been killed during National Guard mission such as fires disaster, earthquake, and other natural disaster. Since the UAVs are remotely controlled by the automation systems, and not manned by the pilots "graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours" are not critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess.
Testing the Second Hypothesis
The study proceeds to test the second null hypothesis that states:
Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
And the research hypothesis that states that:
H2: "UAV pilots believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
Question 4
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should have a:
3 years of experience as a pilot
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 6:
Question 4:
3-Year Experience as a Pilot
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
8
8
22.86%
2.63
1.396
2: Not Important
13
21
37.14%
3: Not Sure
3
24
8.57%
4: Important
6
30
17.14%
5: Very Important
5
35
14.29%
Based on the findings, the research does not support the statement that possession of 3-year experience in the aviation industry contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF.
Question 5
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should:
Possess computer skills
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 7:
Question 5
Computer Skills
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
0
0
0%
4.343
1.027
2: Not Important
4
4
11.43%
3: Not Sure
2
6
5.71%
4: Important
7
13
20%
5: Very Important
22
35
62.86%
Hours and graduating from UPT
The findings of the survey question 14 also accept the first null hypothesis, and reject the first research hypothesis. From the findings of the survey, it is revealed that more than 65% of the respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the statement.
Based on the findings, the study confirms the support of the first null hypothesis that states:
H0: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
However, the study rejects the first research hypothesis that states:
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Question 15. "To what extend do you agree/disagree with the following statement: UAV pilots who possess computer skills and who have never been involved in a human related incident are critical factors to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
Please Tick One
1-- Strongly disagree; 2 - Disagree; 3-- Neither agree or disagree; 4-- Agree; 5-- Strongly agree
Table 18
Question 15: Computer Skills and Human Related Incident
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Strongly Disagree
0
0
0
3.94
0.802
2: Disagree
1
1
2.86%
3: Neither Agree or disagree
9
10
25.71%
4: Agree
16
26
45.71%
5: Strongly Agree
9
35
25.71%
Fig 9: UAV Pilot who posses Computer Skills and never involved in Human Related
Incidents are critical factor in UAV Safe Operator
From the findings, the study accepts the second research hypothesis that states:
H2: "UAV pilots believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
However, the study rejects the second null hypothesis that states:
Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
Alexander, (2007) supports the findings of the hypothesis 2 by arguing that advanced in computer technology has revolutionized all aspects of life. In a dynamic technological environment, computer technology has cut across all span of life. Since the complex automated computer program remotely controls the UAV, the pilots need to posses computer skills to enhance safety operations of the UAV. In the aviation industry, the application of computer technology has been used to reduce the loss of life and enhancement of aviation safety. Since aircraft accidents occurs on the daily basis in the aviation industry, and the UAV is developed to minimize the occurrence of accidents and enhance aviation safety. The UAV platform is well instrumented with computers and sensors with one or two general-purpose flight processors. The Ground Control Station (GCS) of the UAV is run by the computers and controlled by the system operators. Typically, the computers automated systems are used to achieve automatic takeoffs and landings for UAV. (See Appendix 1).
In the application of UAV, Ochieng & Sauer (2003) also agree that computer technology is widely used through the application of Global Positioning System (GPS). The GPS has been widely used to enhance the aviation safety. "GPS provides the level of safety required for di-erent aircraft ?ight navigation operations. It enhances protection against potential catastrophic." (Ochieng & Sauer, 2003 P. 51).
Thus, the possession of computer skills is very critical to operate all the UAV devices to enhance and contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF.Williams, (2004) also supports the findings is by arguing that "Human factors are consistently cited as a major cause of manned aircraft accidents. Estimates of the percentage of accidents that implicate human error range from 70% to 80%." To eliminate the loss of pilot lives and fulfill mission requirements, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been developed to carry out the dangerous missions. "UAVs can fly at high altitudes with no need for life-support systems." (Dixon, & Wickens, 2003 P. 2). Since UAV is flown remotely hundreds and thousands of miles, the pilots are removed from danger and the aircrafts are being manipulated in a way not possible in a manned aircraft. Correa et al. (2007) reveal that the safety paradigms of the UAV could be achieved with the use of artificial intelligence, Multi-Agents Systems, could be used to control the UAV automation to enhance safety operations of the UAV operators in the USAF. The use of automation system could assure operation of truly safe in airspace. Hou et al. (2007) also argue that automation software agent contributes to the decision making and safe operation of the UAV operators in the USAF.
Summary
This chapter presents the findings of the thesis. The survey questionnaires are collected from 35 respondents. The data are collected to test the following hypotheses:
Ho: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that the possession of computer skills and the lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
H2:"UAV pilots believe that the possession of computer skills and the lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
Based on the findings, the study supports the first null hypothesis and rejects the first research hypothesis. However, the data collected supports the second research hypothesis and reject the second null hypothesis.
Table 19: Descriptive Statistics
Survey
Survey Questions
Mean
Standard Deviation
% of Important
% Not important
% Not Sure
1
Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT
2.914
1.40101
34.29%
45.71%
20
2
Pilot should be Under 40 years old
2.057
1.1099
34.28%
66.72
0
3
Having Minimum of 100 Flying Hours
3.2
1.549
40%
34.29
25.71
Total
Mean %
36.19
48.91
Mean Difference
12.72
4
3-Year Experience as a Pilot
2.63
1.396
31.43%
60.00%
8.57%
5
Possession of Computer Skills
4.343
1.027
82.86%
11.43%
5.71%
6
To be Fighter Pilot
1.97
0.954
11.43%
80.00%
8.57%
Total
Mean %
41.91%
50.47%
Mean Difference
8.56%
Survey
Survey Question
Mean
Standard Deviation
% of UPT
% of UAV operator course
% of No previous pilot training
7
Have you attended (UPT) or the new UAV operators Course
1.229
0.426
80%
20%
0%
Age 20-35
Age 36-50
51 +
8
What is your age
1.742
0.82
48.57%
28.57%
22.86%
0-750
751-1500
9
How many flying hours have you logged?
1.89
0.832
40%
31.43%
28.57%
None
5 or less
6-15
16+
10
"How many years of experience do you have as a pilot"?
2.4
1.143
28.57%
25.57%
22.86%
22.86%
Heavy aircraft
Bomber aircraft
Rotary aircraft
None of these
11
Which of these aircraft have you previously piloted
2.23
1.35
45.71%
20%
0%
34.29%
Yes
No
12
"Do you possess computer skills"?
1.2
0.406
80%
20%
Yes
No
13
"Have you ever been involved in a "human related" aviation safety," incident?"
2
0
0%
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree or disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
14
Critical attributes of being a UAV pilot: UPT Undergraduate being under 40, & having a minimum of 100 flying hours experience?"
2.2
0.901
22.86%
42.86%
25.71%
8.57%
0%
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree or disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
15
"UAV pilots who possess computer skills and who have never been involved in a human related incident are critical factors to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
3.94
0.802
0%
2.86%
25.71%
45.71%
25.71%
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