ATCion: Exploring the Design of Icon-based Visual Aids for Enhancing In-cockpit Air Traffic Control Communication

2026-09-21

AI Summary

研究通过用户中心的方法设计了基于图标的视觉辅助工具ATCion，以增强驾驶舱内与空中交通管制的沟通，减少了误读并降低了记忆负担。

Abstract

Effective communication between pilots and air traffic control (ATC) is essential for aviation safety, but verbal exchanges over radios are prone to miscommunication, especially under high workload conditions. While cockpit-embedded visual aids offer the potential to enhance ATC communication, little is known about how to design and integrate such aids. We present an exploratory, user-centered investigation into the design and integration of icon-based visual aids, named ATCion, to support in-cockpit ATC communication, through four phases involving 22 pilots and 1 ATC controller. This study contributes a validated set of design principles and visual icon components for ATC messages. In a comparative study of ATCion, text-based visual aids, and no visual aids, we found that our design improved readback accuracy and reduced memory workload, without negatively impacting flight operations; most participants preferred ATCion over text-based aids, citing their clarity, low cognitive cost, and fast interpretability. Further, we point to implications and opportunities for integrating icon-based aids into future multimodal ATC communication systems to improve both safety and efficiency.

Problem

• Air Traffic Control
• Pilot Communication
• Visual Aids
• Workload Conditions
• Miscommunication

Innovation

• icon-based visual aids
• ATC communication
• user-centered design
• readback accuracy
• cognitive workload