398. Human Input Systems for Commercial Space Transportation

Team

Research Area

3.0 Human Spaceflight

Project Description

The proposed research project on Human Input Systems for Commercial Space Transportation (HIS CST) will develop guides for CST industry in area of definition and engineering of CST control input devices and systems usable in variable gravity with or without spacesuit. Experimental research hardware including IVA spacesuit and microgravity head down tilt cockpit simulator will be used to simulate spacecraft cabin and cockpit environment. The FIT’s adaptive spaceship cockpit simulator allows smooth transition of individual flight phases in range of 360° by cockpit orientation (See Adaptive Spaceship Cockpit Simulator). This capability provides higher than generally known existing laboratory systems fidelity and very low risk of simulation, enabling quick turnaround of pre‐screen research subjects and considering also roles of untrained spaceflight participants (i.e. general public). The entire system operates at minimal cost. A number of different input and control devices will be evaluated in nominal and microgravity positions and general guides for design of the input and control devices will be developed in conjunction with already completed research.

Research subject in pressurized IVA spacesuit operating the ASCS in 18° head-down tilt – simulated microgravity environment.

Project Outcomes

The design principles derived from humans‐in‐the‐loop simulations using ASCS (See Adaptive Spaceship Cockpit Simulator) are directed by following research goals:
GOAL 1: Avoid aviation control paradigm (up = nose‐up = move hand towards body). Preliminary experiments indicate that any directional motion of limbs may not only be imprecise but also critically incorrect (orientation misinterpretation) and should be avoided in variable gravity. Intuitive input devices, especially in life‐critical scenarios, are preferred. Hence, it is critical to identify the best human‐input physio‐cognitive control logic and mean by human operator in variable gravity environment, while considering emergency scenarios when automated system cannot perform the control function.
GOAL 2: An input feedback and input indication of the input devices serves as confirmation of action in an ideally multi‐sensory way. Identify satisfactory multimodal feedback in hyperbaric, variable gravity environment.
GOAL 3: A homing function of an input device is a cognitive and physical guide for the user about the neutral position of the control device. A homing function of nominal control input devices can be misinterpreted when using spacesuit and/or operating the vehicle in variable gravity environment. Determine whether an input device should have a homing function and, if so, how it should be communicated to the user.
GOAL 4: A parametric integration of personal physical and cognitive ergonomics features in the cockpit will simplify spaceship cockpit conceptualization. Identify the fundamental and most important personal parameters of vehicle occupants that should be driving the cockpit cognitive and physical ergonomics adaptation.
GOAL 5: Adaptive automation is critical. Determine fundamental rules of how to secure optimal performance of the mission and safety of astronauts i.e., how the artificial agent communicates with human agent and distributes function authority when human agent is incapacitated in some sensory areas such as haptic or hearing senses.

Summary of Output

The proposed research project integrates research on currently built space vehicles’ input systems (state of the art research), design of flight simulation scenarios and experimentation for comparative analysis of selected input devices. Humans In The Loop Simulations using FIT HSF Lab innovative simulation hardware with acquires qualitative and quantitative data using custom built input devices testing software.