Analysis of Drone-Assisted Building Inspection Training in VR vs 2D Monitor Display: an EEG Study

TL;DR

This study compares brain activity and information flow in drone-assisted building inspection training using VR versus 2D monitors, revealing insights into cognitive processes and implications for training effectiveness.

Contribution

It uncovers the neural pathways involved in drone inspection tasks across different display modalities using EEG and dynamic causal modeling.

Findings

Similar connectivity patterns across simulation groups

Consistent brain region activity before and after training

Insights into brain asymmetries relevant for adaptive automation

Abstract

Researchers have been using simulation-based methods for drone-assisted inspection training. Multiple brain regions are associated with information processes and decision-making, and the connectivity of these regions may further influence inspectors' performance. However, researchers do not understand the pathways of the information flows when drone pilots process the maintenance and manipulation of information, which may affect the efficiency of tacit knowledge transfer. This study aims to reveal the causal connection between participants' brain regions using an electroencephalogram and dynamic causal modeling when processing drone-assisted building energy audit tasks using different display modalities. The results showed similar single-direction connectivity patterns for the different simulation groups. The results also showed similar patterns between brain regions related to visual inspection performance before and after training. These findings highlight the nature of brain asymmetries and may be utilized in measuring cognitive states and designing adaptive automation in the knowledge transfer of drone-based inspection.