Human Factor Analysis in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Operations

Abstract

In Hungary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) studies have a new momentum from a research project on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP). A Hungarian research team from the National University of Public Service made an attempt to address the UAV’s human factor related safety issues, as selection, training and licensing. In UAV operations the achievement of an operational task is highly dependent on the operators’ proper physical and mental performance, sensomotoric skills and abilities, so a medical screening shall be incorporated into the general selection process. The medical requirements naturally can differ from the physiological parameters of the pilot performing real flight because the weighted importance of aeromedical stressors and the level of flight safety risk are different. The evaluation of mental and physical performance and assessment of stress tolerance might be crucial from flight safety and operational aspects. The importance of simultaneous evaluation of cognitive performance, accompanying psychic stress and vegetative stress indicators is also emphasized.