Evaluating the Cognitive Load of Pilots: A Review of Workload Assessment Tools and Data Analysis Methods

Cognitive workload (CWL) assessment plays a pivotal role in ensuring safety and performance in aviation. This review provides an in-depth examination of the various methods used to evaluate cognitive workload, with a particular focus on aircraft pilots. The methodologies discussed encompass subjective ratings, task performance, behavioral, and physiological measures. Each technique is analyzed for its effectiveness, limitations, and applicability to real-world aviation scenarios. The convergence of multiple methods, particularly the integration of physiological measures such as heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalography (EEG), provides the most robust approach to cognitive workload assessment.