TEAM PERFORMANCE LABORATORY (TPL)

Lab Director:

Florian Jentsch, Ph.D.

Lab Location:
Partnership 2: 1st Floor

The Team Performance Laboratory (TPL) was founded in 1986 and consists of scientists, psychologists, engineers, software developers, and research assistants dedicated to the study of Human Factors, Ergonomics, Usability Engineering, and Cognitive Psychology. Our laboratory has collaborated with organizations such the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

In addition, TPL has worked with other laboratories at the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) (e.g., Cognitive Sciences Laboratory and E2i Creative Studio). Our research focuses on the exploration of modern training technologies including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for aviation personnel and advancing the science of human-agent teaming (HAT), especially in operational contexts where measuring performance and team processes can be difficult.

For more information regarding the FAA project, please contact our team at tpl@ucf.edu

For more information regarding the DARPA project, please visit this website: https://www.darpa.mil/program/artificial-social-intelligence-for-successful-teams

People

Lab Manager
Blake Nguyen, M.S.
Research Associate
E-mail: blake.nguyen@ucf.edu

Graduate Research Assistants:

Rhyse Bendell
Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Doctoral Student
E-mail: rhyse.bendell@ucf.edu
Fiona Duruaku
Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Doctoral Student
E-mail: Fiona.Duruaku@ucf.edu
Nathan Sonnenfeld
Modeling and Simulation Doctoral Student
E-mail: Nathan.Sonnenfeld@ucf.edu
Jessica Williams
Modeling and Simulation Doctoral Student
E-mail: jesi.williams@ucf.edu

Research Assistants:

Alex Alonso
Caroline Gomez
Andy Silva

Highlights

Publications

Bendell, R., Williams, J., Fiore, S. M., & Jentsch, F. (in press). Teamwork Traits Associated with Positive Perceptions of the Dependability and Utility of Autonomous Advisors. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. X, No. X). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Bendell, R., Williams, J., Fiore, S. M., & Jentsch, F. (in press). Participant Gaming Experience Predicts Mental Model Formation, Task Performance, and Teaming Behavior in Simulated Search and Rescue. In Proceedings of the AHFE 2023 International Conferences on Human Factors and Simulation held on July 20–24, 2023, at San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, California, USA x (pp. x-x). Springer International Publishing.

Duruaku, F., Nguyen, B., Green, N., Sonnenfeld, N.A., & Jentsch, F. (in press). Suitability of Virtual Reality for Supplemental Scenario-based Training to Facilitate Crew Resource Management Outcomes. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. X, No. X). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Fiore, S.M., Bendell, R., & Williams, J., (2023). Virtual Teams and Team Cognition. In L. Gilson, T. Maynard, & T. O’Neill (Eds.), Handbook of Virtual Work (pp. 280-304). Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Nguyen, B., Sonnenfeld, N., Finkelstein, L., Alonso, A., Gomez, C., Duruaku, F., & Jentsch, F. (in press). Using AI Tools to Develop Training Materials for Aviation: Ethical, Technical, and Practical Concerns. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. X, No. X). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Sonnenfeld, N.A., Nguyen, B., Duruaku, D., Alonso, A., Carney, M., Smith, E., & Jentsch, F. (in press). Flightcrew Procedures Experimental Training: Simulation Testbed Design, Development, & Interactive Demonstration. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. X, No. X). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Sonnenfeld, N.A., Nguyen, B., Gomez, C., Jentsch, F., & Fiore, S.M. (in press). On Episodic Memory in Experiential Learning for Flightcrew Training. 2023 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

Sonnenfeld, N.A., Nguyen, B., Alonso, A., & Jentsch, J. (in press). Training Effectiveness Evaluation: Frameworks and Considerations for Flightcrew Training Review & Approval. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. X, No. X). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Williams, J., Bendell, R., Fiore, S. M., & Jentsch, F. (in press). Factor Analysis of a Generalized Video Game Experience Measure. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. X, No. X). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Williams, J., Bendell, R., Fiore, S. M., & Jentsch, F. (in press). The Role of Artificial Theory of Mind in Supporting Human-Agent Teaming Interactions. In Proceedings of the AHFE 2023 International Conferences on Human Factors and Simulation held on July 20–24, 2023, at San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, California, USA x (pp. x-x). Springer International Publishing.

Research Areas:

Human-agent Teaming (HAT)
Measuring Performance and Team Processes
Modern Training Technologies

Capabilities & Advanced Technologies:

Augmented Reality (AR)
Virtual Reality (VR)

Application Areas:

Aviation
Defense
Transportation