Loyal Wingman Assessment: Social Navigation for Human-Autonomous Collaboration in Simulated Air Combat

TL;DR

This paper introduces social navigation metrics for autonomous agents in air combat to improve their integration with human pilots, focusing on safety, naturalness, and operational effectiveness.

Contribution

It proposes new social navigation metrics specifically designed for autonomous loyal wingmen in air combat, addressing a gap in safety and team coordination.

Findings

Metrics aim to improve safety and naturalness in autonomous pilot teams.

User study will evaluate pilot comfort and team performance.

Expected to enhance autonomous agents' operational effectiveness.

Abstract

This study proposes social navigation metrics for autonomous agents in air combat, aiming to facilitate their smooth integration into pilot formations. The absence of such metrics poses challenges to safety and effectiveness in mixed human-autonomous teams. The proposed metrics prioritize naturalness and comfort. We suggest validating them through a user study involving military pilots in simulated air combat scenarios alongside autonomous loyal wingmen. The experiment will involve setting up simulations, designing scenarios, and evaluating performance using feedback from questionnaires and data analysis. These metrics aim to enhance the operational performance of autonomous loyal wingmen, thereby contributing to safer and more strategic air combat.