SIMULATOR SICKNESS IN THE AIRCRAFT TRAINING OF MILITARY AND CIVIL PILOTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF AIRCRAFT/CHOROBA SYMULATOROWA W SZKOLENIU PILOTOW WOJSKOWYCH I CYWILNYCH ROZNYCH TYPOW STATKOW POWIETRZNYCH

• Published in: Medycyna pracy 2019-05, Vol.70 (3), p.317
• Main Authors: Wojciechowski, Przemyslaw, Blaszczyk, Jan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fatigue; Motion sickness; Nausea; Pilots; Technology; Training; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 0465-5893
• DOI: 10.13075/mp.5893.00766

Background: With the rise in popularity and availability of simulators for the aircraft training of pilots, numerous side effects of that technology have been noted among their users. The symptoms of simulator sickness are similar to the symptoms of motion sickness. Dizziness, nausea, as well as spatial disorientation and a limited capacity for concentration may be observed. However, those symptoms depend on individual user's predispositions. Material and Methods: The aim of the research was to assess the probability of occurrence of simulator sickness during exercises in virtual reality, and its impact on the effectiveness of training. Thirty two military and 16 civilian pilots of various types of aircraft took part in the research. For the subjective assessment of the psychophysical condition of the pilots, a questionnaire based on Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) was used. Results: Four main factors that are associated with the prevalence of simulator sickness have been identified, i.e., age, a variety of missions, a type of aircraft and susceptibility to motion sickness. Conclusions: Due to the individual characteristics of each person, determining the risk of occurrence of simulator sickness seems to be difficult. However, there are some factors that increase the probability of getting sick, including cold, medications, lack of sleep and general fatigue. The lack of knowledge about simulator sickness among aircraft pilots appears rather alarming. When access to virtual reality is so wide, the possible ways of expanding the knowledge in this area should be considered, especially in order to obtain better results in simulator sessions. Key words: simulator sickness, virtual reality, pilot, questionnaire survey, simulators, Simulator Sickness Questionnaire Wstep: Wraz z wieksza popularnoscia i dostepnoscia szkolen symulatorowych wykorzystywanych do treningu pilotow zaobserwowano pojawianie sie licznych efektow ubocznych tej technologii. Objawy choroby symulatorowej sa zblizone do dolegliwosci zwiazanych z choroby lokomocyn--m.in. zawroty glowy, wymioty, a takze dezorientacja przestrzenna oraz ograniczenie zdolnosci koncentracji. Zaleza one jednak od indywidualnych predyspozycji uzytkownikow symulatorow. Material i metody: Celem pracy byla ocena prawdopodobienstwa wystapienia choroby symulatorowej podczas cwiczen w wirtualnej rzeczywistosci oraz jej wplywu na efektywnosc szkolenia. Proba badawcza liczyla 32 wojskowych i 16 cywilnych pilotow roznych