Impacts of pilots'visual attention features on simulated air to air combat performances

GE Hanxiao; LIN Rong; LIAO Yang; DU Jian; ZHU Yuyang; XIONG Duanqin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2097-1753.2025.01.001

Abstract：Objective To explore the impact of pilots'visual attention features on combat performance during simulated air-to-air combat,and provide data for simulated air-to-air combat training.Methods A total of 25 pilots were selected as the subjects to complete simulated air to air combat tasks on a computer wearing an eye tracking device that recorded the pilots'eye movement while the computer recorded related combat performance indicators such as the time taken to complete a task and results of attacks.Eye movement indicators related to visual attention were selected before correlations with the time taken to complete a task were analyzed and a correlation regression model was constructed to study the differences in eye movement indicators between pilots with successful attacks and those whose attacks failed.Results There was a significant positive correlation between eleven eye tracking indicators and the time taken to lock in the enemy's aircraft(r=0.399-0.657,all P＜0.05).A linear regression equation was constructed that involved such eye movement indicators as the number of fixations on the radar image area,the entry time of the first complete fixation in the data area of the enemy's aircraft,the latency time of first complete fixation on the area of height data,and the average time taken by complete fixation on the task command area(R2=0.712,F=12.375,P＜0.001).There were four eye movement indicators that were significantly negatively correlated with attack duration(r=-0.459,-0.486,-0.480,-0.420,all P＜0.05).A linear regression equation between eye movement indicators and the time taken by an attack was constructed involving six eye movement indicators,including the total time of gaze at the radar image area,the number of gazes at the radar image area,the number of scans in the radar image area,the number of scans in the locked image area,the entry speed of peak scans in the airspeed data area,and the entry speed of peak scans in the data area of the enemy's aircraft(R2=0.736,F=3.540,P=0.017).Compared with pilots who failed in an attack,the successful pilots had shorter latency times in the first fixation on the area of height data,the first complete fixation on the area of height data,the first complete fixation on the area of data on enemy's aircraft,and the first departure from the area of data on enemy's aircraft,and the differences were statistically significant(t=-2.206～-2.059,all P＜0.05).Conclusion In simulated air combat scenarios,pilots exhibit distinct visual attention patterns,and their eye tracking indicators can provide important data for simulated air-to-air combat training.