Space Mission Output Space Mission Output OptimizationOptimization

Considering the Human Side Considering the Human Side of Human-Machine Interaction of Human-Machine Interaction

In SpaceIn Space

Malfunctioning Machines

• Several disasters accompanied rapid and exciting development of space technology

• Apollo 1 – electrical spark, 1967 • Space Shuttle Challenger (Video) –

upon launch, 1986• Columbia – disintegrated in

atmosphere (material failure), 2003

Approach• Balance complementarity between Balance complementarity between

man & machineman & machine• Account for psychology of human Account for psychology of human

operatoroperator• Tailor design to human operator:Tailor design to human operator:

– Malleable interfacesMalleable interfaces– Tactile interfaceTactile interface– Augmented RealityAugmented Reality

Financial ConcernsFinancial Concerns

• Expensive space exploration – Hubble Expensive space exploration – Hubble Telescope approx $3 billionTelescope approx $3 billion

• Cost minimization is a large part of Cost minimization is a large part of NASA’s agendaNASA’s agenda

• Need better use of resources – not just Need better use of resources – not just strict screening and peak proficiency strict screening and peak proficiency trainingtraining

Role of man vs. role of machines

• In past, man was just a In past, man was just a mere passive observer mere passive observer

•Progressed so that man & Progressed so that man & machine shared machine shared complimentary relationshipcomplimentary relationship

•Yet, man not offered many Yet, man not offered many degrees of freedomdegrees of freedom

Psychiatric Morbidity

• Spaceflight is hazardous to man’s psyche

• Antarctic space-analog simulation program had startling results

• Participants experienced mood, adjustment, sleep, & personality disorders

• Anxiety/state of discomfort highly correlates with performance!

Antarctic Space-Analog Results• 12.1% of participants had symptoms

that met DSM-IV criteria• 31.6% - mood & adjustment disorders• 21% - sleep related disorders• 10.5% - substance related disorders• 7.9% - personality disorders

• Results suggest psychological factors should not be neglected

TrainingTraining

• Training should provide technical Training should provide technical mastery of the machine and a mastery of the machine and a remedy to space anxietyremedy to space anxiety

• Simulation is main form of Simulation is main form of trainingtraining

• However, the only advances However, the only advances made on simulators have been made on simulators have been electrical & mechanicalelectrical & mechanical

Two Approaches to Space Flight:

• NASANASA– High-tech shuttlesHigh-tech shuttles

• Scaled CompositesScaled Composites– Private companyPrivate company– Simple approach: Simple approach:

• Interface consists of Interface consists of stick and rudder stick and rudder controls, similar to a controls, similar to a small planesmall plane

• Shows the range of Shows the range of interfaces possibleinterfaces possible

Daniel Barry, *77

Brian Binnie, *78

Malleable InterfaceMalleable Interface

• Advanced Technology Branch – NASAAdvanced Technology Branch – NASA• Manual navigation according to personal Manual navigation according to personal

judgment not pre-programmed machine judgment not pre-programmed machine commands commands

• Open loop system with feedback and feed- Open loop system with feedback and feed- forwardforward

• Ideology: full control of machine is better Ideology: full control of machine is better for psychefor psyche

• User performance increasedUser performance increased

Haptic Interface

• Multiple sensory Multiple sensory inputs through inputs through tactors to tactors to communicate with communicate with surrounding surrounding machinesmachines

• Ideology: decrease Ideology: decrease workload of visual workload of visual sensory system – sensory system – less anxietyless anxiety

Augmented Reality InterfaceAugmented Reality Interface

• Combine real & synthetic features to Combine real & synthetic features to control human operator attentioncontrol human operator attention

• Improves synchronization between Improves synchronization between computer generated info & realitycomputer generated info & reality

• Not substitute for reality but Not substitute for reality but maintains situational awarenessmaintains situational awareness

• Ideology: attention is not captured by Ideology: attention is not captured by past information; lagging due to real-past information; lagging due to real-time lapsetime lapse

Conclusion• Human performance needs to be Human performance needs to be

optimized in tandem with optimized in tandem with machine performancemachine performance

• Therefore, training and interface Therefore, training and interface should be tailored to the human should be tailored to the human

• Cost will be worth the lowered Cost will be worth the lowered ratio of shuttle cost to expected ratio of shuttle cost to expected number of flightsnumber of flights