L.C. Boer | H.J. de Kok | W.F. Schmidt Informatie van en naar de gevechtssoldaat te voet met handsfree radio
Gedrukt boek
Purpose. The Soldier Modernisation Programme (SMP) aims to enhance fighting power of soldiers, among others through improving the flow of information. A previous project revealed many bottlenecks in the flow of information-cases where the flow came to a standstill. The occasion of the current report is the introduction of a new handsfree radio (HFR) enabling group conversation at a distance. Commissioned by the project leader SMP, TNO Human Factors determined which information-flow bottlenecks are solved by introduction of the HFR. Methods. Information streams during a realistic operation (elaborated on paper) were reviewed in talk-through interviews with 16 seasoned combat soldiers. The review was preceded by a demonstration of a new radio. Results. The new radio solved one quarter of the bottlenecks. "Situation awareness" and "controllability" became better. Situation awareness, because soldiers will report their observations more often, faster, and more accurately; controllability, because the group commander has more control over his men. The radio should be reliable and easy to operate. The participants had the clear wish to give the group commander the means to control the radio net. And they were aware that the radio is no replacement of the person-to-person contact ("look one another in the eyes"). Bottlenecks not yet solved are related to poor radio connections group to platoon, to poor geographic information, to report information (too) long after observation, and to problems consulting orders after they were issued. Conclusions. The new handsfree radio definitely sitisfies a need; information to and from the soldier will flow faster. Ease of radio operation and ergonomics are necessary conditions. Future SMP projects should address the 75% remaining bottlenecks.