Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft introduce unique movement dimensions beyond traditional fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft, requiring novel control interfaces for pilot operation. This study examines the compatibility of gesture-based control movements across participants with varying flight experience levels. This study included a total of 60 participants across four groups; novices (no real or virtual flight experience, n=30), flight simulator gamers (n=10), fixed-wing pilots (n=10), and rotor-wing pilots (n=10). Participants viewed eighteen simulated first-person eVTOL aircraft movements (e.g. pitch, roll, yaw, heave, translations) assessing their intuitive gesture inputs for the different aircraft motions. Additionally, they were asked to sketch their envisioned cockpit control layouts. Participants were not told the type of aircraft the videos simulated. Their gestures and verbal explanations were recorded for analysis. Two independent raters categorized similar gestures the participants performed based on the body part moved (e.g. hand, foot), direction of movement (forward, backward, left, right), and the type of movement (tilt, twist, pull, push) for each aircraft movement. Inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa) for rater groupings were high and indicated substantial agreement between the raters. Dominant gesture movements for each participant group were identified across the 18 aircraft maneuvers using rater groupings. Results indicate that prior flight experience influences gesture compatibility. Rotor-wing pilots, fixed-wing pilots, and flight simulator gamers performed gesture motions similar to their experience and knowledge, while novices drew inspiration from driving cars and piloting they’ve seen through movies and tv-shows (e.g. Top Gun). The imagined sketched concepts varied between rotor-wing centric (cyclic, collective, pedals), fixed-wing centric (yoke, throttle, pedals), and hybrid control schemes blending conventional and novel inputs. The findings of this study highlight considerations needed to tailor eVTOL pilot controls depending on the target pilot population and movement compatibility considerations.
","abstract_html":"<p>Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft introduce unique movement dimensions beyond traditional fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft, requiring novel control interfaces for pilot operation. This study examines the compatibility of gesture-based control movements across participants with varying flight experience levels. This study included a total of 60 participants across four groups; novices (no real or virtual flight experience, n=30), flight simulator gamers (n=10), fixed-wing pilots (n=10), and rotor-wing pilots (n=10). Participants viewed eighteen simulated first-person eVTOL aircraft movements (e.g. pitch, roll, yaw, heave, translations) assessing their intuitive gesture inputs for the different aircraft motions. Additionally, they were asked to sketch their envisioned cockpit control layouts. Participants were not told the type of aircraft the videos simulated. Their gestures and verbal explanations were recorded for analysis. Two independent raters categorized similar gestures the participants performed based on the body part moved (e.g. hand, foot), direction of movement (forward, backward, left, right), and the type of movement (tilt, twist, pull, push) for each aircraft movement. Inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa) for rater groupings were high and indicated substantial agreement between the raters. Dominant gesture movements for each participant group were identified across the 18 aircraft maneuvers using rater groupings. Results indicate that prior flight experience influences gesture compatibility. Rotor-wing pilots, fixed-wing pilots, and flight simulator gamers performed gesture motions similar to their experience and knowledge, while novices drew inspiration from driving cars and piloting they’ve seen through movies and tv-shows (e.g. Top Gun). The imagined sketched concepts varied between rotor-wing centric (cyclic, collective, pedals), fixed-wing centric (yoke, throttle, pedals), and hybrid control schemes blending conventional and novel inputs. The findings of this study highlight considerations needed to tailor eVTOL pilot controls depending on the target pilot population and movement compatibility considerations.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Patel, Shivani J."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy in Human Factors","degree_level":"Dissertation - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-04-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2025-04-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:26:22Z","subjects":["eVTOL","UAM","urban air mobility","AAM","Advanced Air Mobility","gestures","pilot control inputs","human factors","aviation","novices","rotor-wing","fixed-wing","Cognitive Psychology","Experimental Analysis of Behavior","Human Factors Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.erau.edu/edt/993","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Patel, Shivani J."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-05-06T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy in Human Factors"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["eVTOL","UAM","urban air mobility","AAM","Advanced Air Mobility","gestures","pilot control inputs","human factors","aviation","novices","rotor-wing","fixed-wing","Cognitive Psychology","Experimental Analysis of Behavior","Human Factors Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.erau.edu/edt/993"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft introduce unique movement dimensions beyond traditional fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft, requiring novel control interfaces for pilot operation. This study examines the compatibility of gesture-based control movements across participants with varying flight experience levels. This study included a total of 60 participants across four groups; novices (no real or virtual flight experience, n=30), flight simulator gamers (n=10), fixed-wing pilots (n=10), and rotor-wing pilots (n=10). Participants viewed eighteen simulated first-person eVTOL aircraft movements (e.g. pitch, roll, yaw, heave, translations) assessing their intuitive gesture inputs for the different aircraft motions. Additionally, they were asked to sketch their envisioned cockpit control layouts. Participants were not told the type of aircraft the videos simulated. Their gestures and verbal explanations were recorded for analysis. Two independent raters categorized similar gestures the participants performed based on the body part moved (e.g. hand, foot), direction of movement (forward, backward, left, right), and the type of movement (tilt, twist, pull, push) for each aircraft movement. Inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa) for rater groupings were high and indicated substantial agreement between the raters. Dominant gesture movements for each participant group were identified across the 18 aircraft maneuvers using rater groupings. Results indicate that prior flight experience influences gesture compatibility. Rotor-wing pilots, fixed-wing pilots, and flight simulator gamers performed gesture motions similar to their experience and knowledge, while novices drew inspiration from driving cars and piloting they’ve seen through movies and tv-shows (e.g. Top Gun). The imagined sketched concepts varied between rotor-wing centric (cyclic, collective, pedals), fixed-wing centric (yoke, throttle, pedals), and hybrid control schemes blending conventional and novel inputs. The findings of this study highlight considerations needed to tailor eVTOL pilot controls depending on the target pilot population and movement compatibility considerations.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Rookies to Aces: Investigating the Intuitiveness of Pilot Interaction for Operating eVTOL Aircraft"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Patel, Shivani J."],"dc:date.available":["2026-05-06T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft introduce unique movement dimensions beyond traditional fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft, requiring novel control interfaces for pilot operation. This study examines the compatibility of gesture-based control movements across participants with varying flight experience levels. This study included a total of 60 participants across four groups; novices (no real or virtual flight experience, n=30), flight simulator gamers (n=10), fixed-wing pilots (n=10), and rotor-wing pilots (n=10). Participants viewed eighteen simulated first-person eVTOL aircraft movements (e.g. pitch, roll, yaw, heave, translations) assessing their intuitive gesture inputs for the different aircraft motions. Additionally, they were asked to sketch their envisioned cockpit control layouts. Participants were not told the type of aircraft the videos simulated. Their gestures and verbal explanations were recorded for analysis. Two independent raters categorized similar gestures the participants performed based on the body part moved (e.g. hand, foot), direction of movement (forward, backward, left, right), and the type of movement (tilt, twist, pull, push) for each aircraft movement. Inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa) for rater groupings were high and indicated substantial agreement between the raters. Dominant gesture movements for each participant group were identified across the 18 aircraft maneuvers using rater groupings. Results indicate that prior flight experience influences gesture compatibility. Rotor-wing pilots, fixed-wing pilots, and flight simulator gamers performed gesture motions similar to their experience and knowledge, while novices drew inspiration from driving cars and piloting they’ve seen through movies and tv-shows (e.g. Top Gun). The imagined sketched concepts varied between rotor-wing centric (cyclic, collective, pedals), fixed-wing centric (yoke, throttle, pedals), and hybrid control schemes blending conventional and novel inputs. The findings of this study highlight considerations needed to tailor eVTOL pilot controls depending on the target pilot population and movement compatibility considerations.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.erau.edu/edt/993"],"dc:subject":["eVTOL","UAM","urban air mobility","AAM","Advanced Air Mobility","gestures","pilot control inputs","human factors","aviation","novices","rotor-wing","fixed-wing","Cognitive Psychology","Experimental Analysis of Behavior","Human Factors Psychology"],"dc:title":["Rookies to Aces: Investigating the Intuitiveness of Pilot Interaction for Operating eVTOL Aircraft"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy in Human Factors"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:26:22Z"}