Date of Award

5-2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science In Aviation Human Factors

Department

Aeronautics

First Advisor

Richard Lanier

Second Advisor

Michael R. Witiw

Third Advisor

Hamid K. Rassoul

Abstract

Several pulse parameters that were believed to affect response time to auditory alarms were investigated in a factorial experiment. 18 subjects, (14 male, 4 female), participated in an experiment where the effects of inter-pulse interval (125, 250, and 500 milliseconds) and pulse format (sine, sawtooth, and square waves) on both selfreported ratings of workload and reaction time to alarms (auditory and visual) were explored. The results show that alarms with a shorter inter-pulse interval produced the fastest reaction times. Subjective preferences were rated as equal. Accuracy was equal across groups as measured by amount of errors in responding to auditory alarms. A tracking task was included as a second task and the results showed significant differences between groups. Subjective ratings of workload were also collected and showed no significant differences between groups. The results were interpreted in light of their significance for the development of auditory alarms for the Checkout and Launch Control Systems (CLCS) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

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Copyright held by author.

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