Assessment of Workload in a Field Environment: Implications for Some Unresolved Workload Issues

This report describes a study that evaluated the impact on crew workload of adding the Stingray system to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV). Four BFV crews participated in force-on-force offensive and defensive missions in a baseline BFV (without Stingray) and a BFV with Stingray. Workload was assessed through operator ratings, post-mission debriefs, video and audio recordings, and an end-of-test questionnaire. Results indicated that workload was dependent on mission type (offensive or defensive) and mode of operation (baseline, Stingray-automatic, Stingray-semiautomatic, and Stingray-manual). Crew strategies to reduce workload included reallocation of some BFV commander tasks to the BFV gunner and driver. A significant negative relationship between workload and force effectiveness was demonstrated (i.e., increases in crew workload were associated with decreases in force effectiveness). The utility of the workload measurement techniques employed in the study is discussed in terms of the practical and procedural significance of study results. Workload, System performance, Measurement, Bradley fighting vehicle, Stingray.