Abstract:
Virtual Reality (VR) has gained increasing attention as a promising tool for pilot
training. This study aims to assess the efficacy of a VR-based flight simulation
setup compared to a Desktop-based setup by evaluating participants' subjective
experiences, workload, and physiological responses. A within-subjects design
was employed, with seven participants that underwent explicitly designed VR and
Desktop simulation experiments. Subjective measures, including the NASA-TLX
and SSQ, were used to evaluate workload and simulator sickness symptoms, and
physiological measurements, Heart Rate (HR), and Galvanic Skin Response
(GSR), were collected to assess participants’ physiological responses. Results
revealed higher workload and simulator sickness symptoms in VR as compared
to Desktop Setup. Physiological responses depict higher arousal in VR, as shown
by higher HR and lesser GSR (skin resistance) values. These findings highlight
the challenges faced in integrating VR in flight training and emphasize the need
for tailored approaches to optimize its effectiveness.
