Evaluation of Cognitive Workload in Automated Drilling Processes for Aerospace Structures

The primary cost driver for the assembly of airframes is rooted in drilling, countersinking, and installation of fasteners. Customized automated systems, such as drilling machines and robotic platforms, are designed and built to perform these assembly processes. The operator is the closest individual to the automated system that influences its success. In addition, equipment operators must deliver quality parts within a specified cycle time in these long and repetitive processes. This work evaluates the workload of equipment operators of automated drilling processes for aerospace structures. The evaluation is carried out with experienced machine operators who work full-time in these automated drilling processes. Two different automated drilling processes are evaluated: robotic platforms and automatic drilling machines. This work evaluates workload in the different phases of the automated drilling process. This evaluation identifies phases where workload under-arousal and over-arousal may be present. Finally, recommendations to enhance human performance in automated drilling processes are presented. These results may be successfully used to improve the design of automated drilling machines and drilling processes for aerospace structures.