Expert-based design and evaluation of an ambient light display to improve monitoring performance during multi-UAV supervisory control

In complex supervisory control settings, inadequate monitoring behavior is a substantial source of human error and a risk factor threatening human life and the environment. In this paper, we present a problem-oriented approach to support a commander supervising multiple highly-automated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to perform adequate monitoring behavior. Our approach utilizes an ambient light display (ALD) to continuously externalize the commander´s monitoring performance using ambient visual cues in the peripheral field. We designed and evaluated our prototype with experts. Our results indicate that our prototype can support adequate monitoring behavior of a commander supervising multiple UAVs, and does not affect workload.