1.School of Psychology,University of Queensland,Brisbane,St. Lucia,Australia
Abstract:
Air Traffic Control Laboratory Simulator (ATC-lab) is a new low- and medium-fidelity task environment that simulates air traffic
control. ATC-lab allows the researcher to study human performance of tasks under tightly controlled experimental conditions
in a dynamic, spatial environment. The researcher can create standardized air traffic scenarios by manipulating a wide variety
of parameters. These include temporal and spatial variables. There are two main versions of ATC-lab. The medium-fidelity simulator
provides a simplified version of en route air traffic control, requiring participants to visually search a screen and both
recognize and resolve conflicts so that adequate separation is maintained between all aircraft. The low-fidelity simulator
presents pairs of aircraft in isolation, controlling the participant’s focus of attention, which provides a more systematic
measurement of conflict recognition and resolution performance. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that ATC-lab is a flexible
tool for applied cognition research.