The ability to remotely operate an unmanned vehicle while simultaneously looking for suspicious targets and then classifying those targets is not a trivial skill. This study looked at different training approaches to make better use of simulation as a first training step. When transferring to a live environment, the operators could be grouped into two categories according to whether they passed live training criteria or not. There were clear performance differences between these groups. The group that failed to pass criteria had poorer performance overall, more SA errors, and spent more time in training. Post-hoc analysis showed differences in the demographics between those who passed and those that did not. Male participants and younger participants were more likely to achieve criteria. There were no differences in gaming experience and perceived sense of direction.

One of the technical thrusts within the Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (CTA) from the Army Research Laboratory has been to design, build, and experiment with new concept control systems that will allow a single human to simultaneously control multiple unmanned ground and air vehicles. We have developed both vehicle mounted and dismounted controllers that all provide a similar look and feel, with relatively equivalent control capabilities. The similarity in capabilities includes not only support functions such as map management and reporting, but the actual planning, tasking and control of the unmanned systems including small unmanned ground vehicles (SUGV), larger unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and unmanned air vehicles (UAV).