Imitative Virtual Reality-Based Modeling of Flying Vehicles Control on a Lunar Station to Investigate an Operator’s Activity in Isolation Experiments

• Published in: Human physiology 2023-12, Vol.49 (7), p.739-749
• Main Authors: Bubeev, Yu. A., Usov, V. M., Polyakov, A. V., Mikhaylyuk, M. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Computer applications; Human Physiology; Life Sciences; Unmanned aerial vehicles; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 0362-1197; 1608-3164
• DOI: 10.1134/S0362119723070034

The review is focused on the applicability of virtual reality (VR) and 3D immersive technologies for isolation experiments of human–robot interaction during intravehicular activities (IVAs) and scenarios of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operations on a lunar station. The investigation resulted in the following: (1) a description of UAV prototypes for inspecting confined spaces on Earth, which makes it possible to reproduce the use of multicopter UAVs on the lunar station using VR tools; (2) justification for the use of autonomous UAVs during intravehicular activity (IVA) on the lunar station, taking into account the experience of developing NASA Free-Flyers Units Astrobee (FFU) on the International Space Station; (3) justification for the use of VR tools based on the original VirSim system in relation to IVA at the lunar station. The imitative VR models and suggested research tasks include the following: (1) UAV scenarios, routing, and scheduling, (2) modeling autonomous navigation and control (local positioning and navigation) inside the station, (3) manual piloting, (4) virtual and real control panels, (5) comparison of displays representing UAVs cameras stream, 2D-electronic maps, and real-time 3D-images, and (6) UAV scenarios for potential danger to the lunar station, and support of response to unexpected events. Knowledge from the isolation studies can substantiate guidelines on UAV operations aboard habitable lunar stations.