Effects of display dimensionality, conflict geometry, and time pressure on conflict detection and resolution performance using a cockpit display of traffic information

Cockpit displays of traffic information (CDTIs) are intended to support pilots' ability to perform en route tasks such as conflict detection and resolution. Three experiments were designed to investigate the effects of display dimensionality as well as conflict geometry and time pressure of in-flight conflicts on the performance of these tasks. Pilots viewed one of three display conditions: a 2-D Coplanar display combining a top-down and side view, a 3-D Toggle display with two available fixed perspective views, and a 3-D Manipulable display where pilots continuously controlled the viewpoint. Pilots in Experiment 1 were to resolve conflicts predicted to occur between pilot's ownship and an intruder at 5 minutes from trial start. Pilots in Experiment 2 were to resolve similar conflicts with 5 non-conflicting traffic aircraft in the airspace, in high and low time pressure conditions and while performing a concurrent tracking task. In Experiment 3, pilots were to determine whether a conflict existed between ownship and the intruder.; Overall, the results indicated that the 2-D Coplanar was slightly better than either 3-D display for both conflict detection and conflict resolution tasks. It should be noted that when the alternate viewpoints provided in both 3-D displays were used effectively, these conditions produced performance that was nearly as good for either task as that of the 2-D Coplanar display. However, the susceptibility of these features to increased workload effects suggests that the two 3-D displays would become more vulnerable than the 2-D display when workload and time pressure increase to the level expected on an active flight deck.; All aspects of conflict geometry (lateral angle, altitude changes, and relative speed of the intruder compared to ownship) were found to have some effects on resolution and detection success, response times, and maneuver preferences. Worst-case geometries were those where the intruder was making a vertical change and approaching from small lateral angles.; Finally, as time pressure and workload increased, performance issues arose that will need to be further investigated so that future display designs can accommodate pilots who will be multitasking in high time pressure environments.