Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT) in Real Time: Affordable Methodology to Continuously Assess Human Operators' Workload

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Real-time continuous workload assessment is important for researchers and developers of tools that aim to reduce human operators' cognitive workload, especially in dynamic environments, as the military environment, where task demands and workload change rapidly. Most workload measurement techniques provide a single retrospective value or require expensive high-end sensing equipment. This study aimed to introduce an affordable continuous machine learning (ML) based workload assessment tool, that can provide real-time workload scores. Using experienced military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators in a simulated operational setting, muscle behavior represented by their interaction with a joystick was modeled to predict Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT) scores. Data were obtained from six professional participants. Four machine learning (ML) modeling methodologies were tested on each participant's data. It has been shown that after running an ML setup phase for each participant, an already in use available tool as the UAV joystick controller can be used to predict SWAT scores at any given time. By implementing the approach presented in this study, researchers can more accurately evaluate various aspects of the human operator's cognitive workload, and developers can evaluate the progression of their solutions on operators' cognitive workload over time.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2020 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, SMC 2020
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pages2687-2694
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781728185262
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 Oct 2020
Event2020 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, SMC 2020 - Toronto, Canada
Duration: 11 Oct 202014 Oct 2020

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics
Volume2020-October
ISSN (Print)1062-922X

Conference

Conference2020 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, SMC 2020
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityToronto
Period11/10/2014/10/20

Keywords

  • cognitive workload
  • machine learning
  • real-time
  • subjective workload assessment technique
  • unmanned aerial vehicle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Human-Computer Interaction

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