Information theory analysis of human tracking performance using a smart stick controller

The authors provide an analysis of human subjects performing a tracking task while using a smart stick controller, an aircraft stick developed to improve pilot tracking performance. It operates in active and passive modes. A compensatory tracking task is developed and information theory is used to determine human operator performance. Results indicate that there is an increase in the capacity of the operator between stick modes. By viewing capacity or equivocation alone, it is not possible to ascertain any significant change in performance. However, by observing input entropy, transinformation rate, human transfer function, noise remnant, and equivocation, it is evident that a change in performance does occur from the passive to the active mode