Evaluation of a next generation oxygen system. Assessment of usability, comfort and human performance

Abstract

The use of an oxygen system has many crucial aspects regarding usability, comfort, and its effects on human performance. To overcome shortcomings of common systems, a new oxygen mask was developed. It was aimed at enhancing the devices’ comfort and ease of use and at enabling the interoperability of the oxygen system within the cockpit environment. The project was a cooperation between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Safran Aerosystems (Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking framework). Our aim was to evaluate the new oxygen system with the parts oxygen mask and human-machine interface and to compare it to a customary system. Experiments using 20 pilots were conducted in two demonstrators providing the two oxygen systems. The procedure included normal cruise flight operation and emergency scenarios. Data were assessed by use of computerized questionnaires and cognitive performance tasks. Results showed that subjects were more satisfied with the usability and the comfort of the new mask at all three measurement time points. Cognitive performance with the new mask was not significantly impaired compared to the customary (legacy) mask. Differential effects and conclusions for the further development process are discussed.