Task Prioritization Under Varying Automation Reliability and Task Load in Multitasking Environments

Automation can improve efficiency in multitasking environments, but its benefits depend on system reliability and cognitive demands. This study examined the effects of automation reliability and task load on performance under task prioritization in a simulated multitasking environment. Twenty-six participants completed MATB-II tasks under four conditions varying in automation reliability (reliable vs. unreliable) and task load (low vs. high). Task performance and subjective workload were assessed across all conditions. Performance was highest under reliable, low-load conditions and declined with reduced automation reliability and increased task load across most tasks. Subjective workload increased under reduced automation reliability, whereas the effect of task load was not statistically significant. Notably, instructing participants to prioritize the tracking task did not result in preferential preservation of tracking task performance under reduced automation reliability and high task load conditions. These findings highlight the importance of reliable automation for supporting operator performance under high workload.