Comparison of a Head-Mounted Display and Flat Screen Display during a Micro-UAV Target Detection Task

The use of micro-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in military operations is rapidly increasing. However, limitations in the design of their human-machine interfaces (HMI) can limit their effectiveness. We propose that presenting the HMI of a micro-UAV through a head-mounted display (HMD) device is a viable alternative to using a flat screen display, however, factors such as simulator sickness and discomfort may reduce their usability. The present experiment compared participants’ target detection performance, usability ratings, and levels of simulator sickness when using either a HMD or a flat screen display in a micro-UAV simulation. Overall, there was no significant difference in performance between the two display conditions. However, participants reported significantly higher levels of mental workload, physical discomfort, and simulator sickness when using the HMD. Further, previous experience with virtual reality devices or video games did not reduce the levels of mental workload or simulator sickness experienced during the task. The results demonstrate that, at present, HMDs may not be suitable display devices for performing visual search tasks whilst flying micro-UAVs in urban environments.