How eye tracking streamlines space industry operations

OHB Sweden, a leading satellite manufacturer and operator, recently partnered with Tobii to explore how eye tracking technology could enhance operator training and mission efficiency. The study aimed to uncover how cognitive load, stress, and familiarity with tasks affect operators’ performance in mission-critical satellite control environments.

As part of the study, OHB Sweden also wanted to scrutinize employees’ visual behavior when using screens and interacting with the user interface. The satellite team also sought to gain key insights in order to more efficiently implement software changes and improvements.

The study

To investigate, Tobii and OHB Sweden conducted a series of simulated satellite operations involving expert and novice operators.

The study focused on three primary tasks:

• Issuing commands

• Managing incoming and outgoing flight data

• Decision-making during live satellite flyovers.  
  
  Operators used both familiar and new interfaces under varying stress conditions.

The tests were conducted in a controlled environment using Tobii Pro Glasses 3, which recorded where operators focused their attention. This enabled detailed analysis of how they interacted with screens, processed information, and communicated during tasks. Operators were observed during both routine and high-pressure scenarios, with data points captured on screen-switching frequency, gaze patterns, and task completion times.

Diving into the data

To easily unpack the results of the study OHB Sweden used Tobii’s analytical software, Glasses Explore, to compare various operators of differing skill levels.

The study revealed several compelling insights into how operators interact with satellite control systems under different conditions. In routine satellite flyovers, experienced operators worked seamlessly, rarely switching screens due to their familiarity with task protocols and system interfaces. However, when faced with newer, more complex scenarios, even seasoned operators exhibited higher cognitive strain, switching screens more frequently, taking longer to make decisions, and cross-referencing data more often. 

One standout observation was how operators used peripheral screens with color-coded indicators like red, yellow, and green to assess satellite status at a glance. This intuitive feature reduced cognitive load and inspired ideas for integrating similar visual cues into the central control interface. 

The training process also surfaced as a critical factor. Novice operators often paused tasks to seek guidance or clarify instructions, delaying mission operations. In contrast, experts navigated tasks with ease and even guided novices in real-time. This interaction suggested that recorded task sessions could serve as valuable training tools, enabling new operators to learn from real-world scenarios. 

Communication dynamics emerged as another key area for improvement. Important verbal updates exchanged during operations were sometimes missed or left undocumented, causing potential data gaps. This highlighted the need for an integrated system to automatically capture and display critical information shared during live missions.

Tobii’s technology played a key role throughout the study. The eye tracking glasses seamlessly captured operators’ gaze patterns, securely stored recordings in the cloud, and made the data easily accessible for post-mission analysis. This simplified the review process, enabling remote teams to collaborate more effectively and gain deeper insights into operator performance.

Looking forward

The study underscored the potential of Tobii’s eye tracking technology in optimizing satellite operations and training programs more broadly. Key recommendations after the study included enhancing interface design with intuitive visual cues, improving communication logging processes, and incorporating recorded training sessions into operator onboarding programs.

The project demonstrated how analyzing attention can support more effective training, reduce cognitive load, and improve mission management in complex aerospace environments. By leveraging these insights, OHB Sweden can continue to refine its operator workflows and improving user software, while driving efficiency and accuracy in satellite missions.