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Cognitive Skills Training System for Seakeeping

Seakeeping

The Problem

High-speed boats pose numerous safety challenges that can compromise mission effectiveness. Indeed, failure to adequately negotiate wave conditions may result in injury or equipment damage. To address this issue, the United States Special Operations Command contracted Aptima to develop a comprehensive instructional system for helmsman skills. The program focused on providing on-shore training to increase the effectiveness of the limited time available for on-the-boat practice.

The Solution

  1. Background Research – Evidence suggested that substantial experience is necessary for novice helmsman to master wave negotiating skills. As a result, Aptima began the training system development by studying differences between expert and novice helmsman. This work included a review of the boating literature as well as in-depth interviews with current helmsman of varying experience to identify high-level strategies for taking waves. Building on this work, Aptima researchers then conducted on-board analyses in which they videotaped sea conditions and helmsman actions. Our researchers analyzed these data in a frame by frame manner to uncover subtle differences in control strategies.

  2. Training System – Based on these analyses, Aptima developed a multimedia training system coupled with on-the-boat exercises. The classroom-based system incorporated various images, stories, and movies in order to address learning style differences and to improve retention. The materials presented a variety of strategies specific to different sea conditions, as well as background information on issues such as boat characteristics. We designed these materials to enable the trainees to make more effective use of training time on the boats by improving baseline awareness of critical strategies. The on-the-boat training exercises complemented this classroom work by providing systematic guidance on how to explore different control solutions, thereby promoting discovery of effective strategies.

ISES

The Results

This work resulted in a set of solutions for improving safety:

  1. An improved basic understanding of the differences between novice and expert helmsman.

  2. A comprehensive, multimedia training system that structures hands-on training to improve mission effectiveness.

Elements of the training system are now in use for the instruction of novice helmsman by Naval Special Warfare.

 

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