| Automatic target detection (ATD) is an aid being developed to support soldiers in combat. Intended to assist detection by highlighting human targets, ATD is imperfect and may cue different target affiliations at varying reliabilities, resulting in a cueing bias that could impact identification. To evaluate the effects of cueing biases in ATD on target detection and combat identification, an experiment was conducted in a simulated combat environment. Illumination within the simulated scenarios was varied as day and night conditions to assess automation reliance as task difficulty changed. Target detection rate was found to increase when ATD was available. ATD resulted in the greatest improvement relative to the no aid condition at night. Cueing bias affected identification as well. Participants shifted their decision criterion appropriately, though not optimally, for targets cued and missed by the ATD. Participants relied on ATD differently for detection and identification, but improved performance on both tasks. |
