Can Teams Outperform Individuals in a Simulated Dynamic Control Task?

Dynamic control tasks, such as teleoperation, are often performed by one person. Previous researchers have focused on methods for extending the capabilities of this sole operator. The present study compared the performance of individuals and two-person teams on a simulated space teleoperation task. Forty-eight undergraduate and graduate psychology students participated as part of a larger study. Participants performed a computer-based teleoperation simulation (based on Li, 1998) both individually and in two-person teams (n=24). Results indicated that teams outperformed individuals on two of three performance measures: path completion time and damage caused by collisions with the path wall. These results indicate that team-control may be a viable option in dynamic control tasks such as teleoperation. Real-world applications of these findings are discussed.