Identifying Human Systems Engineering Challenges of Multi-Drone-Human Teaming in Lost Persons Search and Rescue

As drones become increasingly integrated into search and rescue operations, understanding the barriers that impact team effectiveness and optimizing human-drone interaction is critical. This thesis examines the human systems engineering challenges encountered by multi-drone-human teams during lost persons search and rescue missions. A modified version of the Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) methodology was employed to assess task coordination, communication flow, role allocation, and decision-making processes. Interviews with twelve subject matter experts (SMEs) provided valuable insights into human-drone interaction and using multi-drone systems in search and rescue missions. The analysis identified several key challenges, including coordination complexity, communication bottlenecks, role ambiguity, environmental uncertainty, and automation integration. The Mission Planning and Search Execution phases required extensive coordination, and the need for synchronized decision-making and task allocation often led to inefficiencies. Communication bottlenecks, particularly reliance on a single intermediary for information relay, impeded timely communication, pointing to the need for decentralized communication systems. Role ambiguity during search execution, in which unclear task delegation added cognitive load, further hindered performance. Environmental factors, such as weather and terrain, also caused delays in decision-making, requiring frequent real-time adjustments to search strategies. Although automation presents opportunities to reduce cognitive load and streamline tasks such as flight path adjustments and data analysis, it also poses risks related to disengagement and reduced situation awareness. The findings suggest that effective integration of automation, coupled with clearly defined roles and improved communication protocols, could significantly enhance operational efficiency in search and rescue missions. This thesis offers actionable recommendations for improving multi-drone-human team performance, such as developing specialized training programs, enhancing communication systems, and balancing automation use. Addressing these challenges will lead to more effective search and rescue operations, ultimately increasing the success of locating and rescuing lost individuals in complex, dynamic environments.