RESKILL: Self-explanatory Automation through Interactive Visualization

RESKILL is a five-year research project (2016-2021) that explores novel training methods and interface designs in the two domains of maritime piloting and digital (remote) tower operations. The goal is to increase operators’ competence, skill, and understanding of automation support systems. The research is organized in two approaches: exploring automation transparency principles and interactive visualization techniques to explain, to the operator, how automation works; and combining eye-tracking equipment and interactive visualizations techniques to explain, to the instructor, what the operator is looking at. The research comprises:

1) The development of innovative and novel training support systems utilizing interactive visualizations that explain how different automation support systems work. These transparent systems support operators’ understanding of how the automation works and behaves. In the maritime domain, research is conducted on the predictor automation. The predictor automation is a ship navigation and maneuvering support system used by maritime pilots. In the tower air traffic control domain, research is conducted on the Digital Tower Assistant (DiTA). DiTA is envisioned as a digital companion to support tower air traffic controllers in handling airborne traffic movements in multi remote tower operations (MRTO).

2) The development of innovative training support systems employing eye-tracking equipment and interactive visualizations to provide instructors with an understanding of operators’ visual activity and scan patterns.

RESKILL is managed by LiU and is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration.