A Tactile Torso Display Improves Orientation Awareness in Microgravity: A Case Study in the ISS

Abstract

Maintaining a good sense of one's orientation in a microgravity environment such as the International Space Station (ISS) is difficult because information from the vestibular and the proprioceptive system is lacking. Especially in challenging situations such as Extra Vehicular Activity and emergency evacuations, an orientation support tool may be of critical importance. This study investigates if an astronaut's orientation awareness can be improved by providing a vibration on the torso that indicates the direction of `down'.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA452805

Entities

People

  • H. A. Van Veen
  • J. B. Van Erp
  • M. Ruijsendaal

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Sciences
  • Brain
  • Case Studies
  • Classification
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Data Displays
  • Emergencies
  • Environment
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Mobile Phones
  • Motion Sickness
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Stations
  • Test Equipment
  • Training
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

Technology Areas

  • Space