Unmanned Ground Vehicles - Concepts for utilisation and interaction - Remote user studies
Publish date: 2022-01-28
Report number: FOI-R--5236--SE
Pages: 66
Written in: Swedish
Keywords:
- UGV
- unmanned systems
- interface
- automation
- dismounted combat
- infantry units
Abstract
Unmanned systems have been in use for a long time and the array of possible uses for such systems, regardless of domain (air, sea, land), is vast. This report aims to present a view of how parts of the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF) view the possible use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) in lower echelons (group/platoon) and how they would want to interact with a UGV when completing certain tasks and missions. Building on a previously conducted pre-study, the work described in this report, entails two user studies with SwAF personnel. In the first user study, the evaluation of different UGV concepts was deepened as well as the evaluation of necessary functions in an interface for UGVs. In the second user study, the focus was shifted towards how the UGV interface should be designed to help the operator deliver desired operational effect. To summarise, the user studies pointed out a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration regarding the operationalisation of unmanned systems in military units and the interaction between unmanned systems and operators. One of the most important factors was deemed to be the identification of what specific task/tasks a system is expected to perform and in what manner. This in turn points out system specific technical and conceptual demands that need to be fulfilled in order to achieve good operational effect with a system.