Ergonomic Evaluation of VR-Assisted Flight Simulation Setup Using Physiological Measures and Subjective Assessments

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.