3 ms·

Interesting. I wonder if it's because the "pilots" get all the stress but little of the thrill, especially on scouting missions. Flying an RC and looking for ba

by robg 18y ago

Interesting. I wonder if it's because the "pilots" get all the stress but little of the thrill, especially on scouting missions. Flying an RC and looking for bad guys might be fun the first few times. But how many times can you play the same game? By contrast, I can't imagine an F-16 ever being boring. They have to force the pilots to a desk kicking and screaming.

pg 18y ago
There could also be additional cognitive load, because you have to do all the work of orienting yourself using your brain, without any help from your body.
- robg 18y ago
  I really think there's something to that. My next thought after typing that comment was whether a helmet view could help, especially if we can simulate subtle G-forces through the visual system. But there are definitely ways of making it more fun - like hanging the operator and coordinating quick shifts in speed with swings in the resonant vector and velocity. Seems like a perfect use for all the VR research.
bootload 18y ago
"... I wonder if it's because the "pilots" get all the stress but little of the thrill ..." Look at the type (and the mentality) of candidates who are being drafted to do this, "Hundreds of US fighter aces reassigned as drone pilots" ~ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/04/flyboy_equals_drone_boy/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/04/flyboy_equals_drone_... Forget It! ... I'm wondering what happens to the morale and career motivation of an [F-15] Eagle## driver who suddenly gets the nod to be Drone Boy Hardly the desk-bound computer types.
- robg 18y ago
  I think you've missed my original point. It wasn't a contrast between the types of people but rather their experiences during the job demands. I love to drive fast (and passed the Aviation Selection Test - now I'm a desk jockey if there ever was one). But put me behind a driving simulator every day for a job and I'd rapidly become bored and especially stressed if making life and death decisions (who to drop a bombs on). My point was that the experience of flying fighters is inherently rewarding/stimulating in a way I'm not sure drone piloting ever can be. The best hope might be making the drone experience more real, rather than the 2D screen and joystick combo.

by robg 18y ago

pg 18y ago

There could also be additional cognitive load, because you have to do all the work of orienting yourself using your brain, without any help from your body.

robg 18y ago
I really think there's something to that. My next thought after typing that comment was whether a helmet view could help, especially if we can simulate subtle G-forces through the visual system. But there are definitely ways of making it more fun - like hanging the operator and coordinating quick shifts in speed with swings in the resonant vector and velocity. Seems like a perfect use for all the VR research.

bootload 18y ago

"... I wonder if it's because the "pilots" get all the stress but little of the thrill ..." Look at the type (and the mentality) of candidates who are being drafted to do this, "Hundreds of US fighter aces reassigned as drone pilots" ~ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/04/flyboy_equals_drone_boy/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/04/flyboy_equals_drone_... Forget It! ... I'm wondering what happens to the morale and career motivation of an [F-15] Eagle## driver who suddenly gets the nod to be Drone Boy Hardly the desk-bound computer types.

robg 18y ago
I think you've missed my original point. It wasn't a contrast between the types of people but rather their experiences during the job demands. I love to drive fast (and passed the Aviation Selection Test - now I'm a desk jockey if there ever was one). But put me behind a driving simulator every day for a job and I'd rapidly become bored and especially stressed if making life and death decisions (who to drop a bombs on). My point was that the experience of flying fighters is inherently rewarding/stimulating in a way I'm not sure drone piloting ever can be. The best hope might be making the drone experience more real, rather than the 2D screen and joystick combo.