Interface Design to Support Transfer of Tactical Control (ToTC) in Distributed Teams

To be effective, future combined joint operations will require distributed teams to share assets via the Transfer of Tactical Control (ToTC). The goal of this research was to develop and conduct a usability assessment of ToTC enabling interfaces within a UxV command and control simulation testbed. Three interfaces were developed: Enhanced Play Workbook, ToTC Request Tile, and Enhanced Vehicle Status Tile. These interfaces were evaluated by eleven participants with UxV (MQ-9 pilots/sensor operators) or battle management experience within a base defense scenario. Within the resource constrained scenario, participant completed just over half of the tasks and ToTC request rates were low overall. When UxV requests were performed by participants, their feedback suggested that the interfaces enhanced team situation awareness, but the request process could be further streamlined to support situations in which there might be a high rate of requests.