Desktop-VR system for preflight 3D navigation training

Crews who inhabit spacecraft with complex 3D architecture frequently report inflight disorientation and navigation problems. Preflight virtual reality (VR) training may reduce those risks. Although immersive VR techniques may better support spatial orientation training in a local environment, a non-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta astronautica 2008-10, Vol.63 (7), p.841-847
Main Authors: Aoki, Hirofumi, Oman, Charles M., Buckland, Daniel A., Natapoff, Alan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronauts
Egress
Emergencies
Emergency egress
Navigation
Orientation
Spatial orientation
Three dimensional
Training
Virtual reality
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Summary:Crews who inhabit spacecraft with complex 3D architecture frequently report inflight disorientation and navigation problems. Preflight virtual reality (VR) training may reduce those risks. Although immersive VR techniques may better support spatial orientation training in a local environment, a non-immersive desktop (DT) system may be more convenient for navigation training in “building scale” spaces, especially if the two methods achieve comparable results. In this study trainees’ orientation and navigation performance during simulated space station emergency egress tasks was compared while using immersive head-mounted display (HMD) and DT-VR systems. Analyses showed no differences in pointing angular-error or egress time among the groups. The HMD group was significantly faster than DT group when pointing from destination to start location and from start toward different destination. However, this may be attributed to differences in the input device used (a head-tracker for HMD group vs. a keyboard touchpad or a gamepad in the DT group). All other 3D navigation performance measures were similar using the immersive and non-immersive VR systems, suggesting that the simpler desktop VR system may be useful for astronaut 3D navigation training.
ISSN:0094-5765
1879-2030
DOI:10.1016/j.actaastro.2007.11.001