Responsible Center: NASA JSC
Grant Monitor: Stenger, Michael
Center Contact: 281-483-1311
michael.b.stenger@nasa.gov
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Solicitation / Funding Source: 2020-2021 HERO 80JSC020N0001-HHCSR, Omnibus2. Human Health Countermeasures and Space Radiation Topics Appendix C; OMNIBUS2-Appendix D
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC22K0758
Project Type: GROUND
Flight Program:
TechPort: No |
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| Human Research Program Elements: |
(1) HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
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| Human Research Program Risks: |
(1) Sensorimotor:Risk of Altered Sensorimotor/Vestibular Function Impacting Critical Mission Tasks (Revised as of IRP Rev M)
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| Human Research Program Gaps: |
(1) SM-202:Develop and test manual control countermeasures, such as vibrotactile assistance vest, and other human factors aids (IRP Rev L/M)
(2) SM-203:Develop and test SMS countermeasures (IRP Rev L/M)
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| Task Description: |
Spaceflights can cause many sensorimotor-related difficulties that could jeopardize a mission. For example, if astronauts are forced to land manually onto the surface of Mars or the Moon, they will experience a rapid gravitational transition while dynamically stabilizing the spacecraft. In low-g and 0 g environments, gravitationally dependent vestibular and somatosensory cues are minimized and astronauts can easily become spatially disoriented. Vibrotactile feedback has been shown to improve performance of a variety of tasks such as navigation, driving, providing alerts, postural stabilization, rehabilitation, and sports. Additionally, it has been shown that vibrotactile cueing is useful in enhancing control of a motion platform, performance in helicopter flight, control of acrobatic flight in an aircraft, orientation of an astronaut in the International Space Station (ISS), and performance in a nulling task after returning from space. However, there are few controlled studies that have examined the effectiveness of vibrotactile feedback during a manual control task in a disorienting spaceflight analog condition that simulates gravitational transitions. Little is known about what types of training will ensure immediate and successful use of vibrotactile feedback during spatial disorientation felt during a gravitational transition. In Aim 1, we study whether specialized, context-specific training with vibrotactors is required to avoid loss of control when immediately transitioning to a condition without relevant gravitational cues. In Aim 2, we examine whether vibrotactile feedback given at points of stability is better than at points of danger. |
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