Category:Aerospace
From EuroVR Knowledge Base
Contents |
Brief overview of area
In the space sector for example, facilities called CDF - Concurrent Design Facility - are becoming used, where spacecraft preliminary design definition activities are performed. The aim is to introduce innovative technologies, i.e. Virtual Reality and Environments in the design and development of loops to enable the utilisation of innovative CDF.
All these applications relate to the domain of advanced VR-based human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to control/interact with robots. Therefore, based on what has already been done in this field, future applications will be aiming at investigating and developing the most appropriate VR-based interfaces, such as multi-modal interfaces providing voice controls, gesture-based or body control, multiple haptic feedback and exoskeleton-based system for autonomous agents control and 3D visual multiple users feedback.
Nevertheless, from a very future-oriented perspective, due to the foreseen increase of autonomy and artificial intelligence of robotic systems, interesting novel ideas might include VR-based immersive collaborative applications involving humans and robots or better autonomous agents, where these are not just passive executors of instructions and actions decided by humans, but become active human collaborators, able to perform some activities with variable levels of autonomy.
Vision and potential scenarios of use
WG 2.1 Aero and Space
- Collaborative immersive design
- Audio-video systems for communication, training and leisure (HMI) in different environments
- Haptic devices to support psychological issues and act as control systems
- Multi-sensorial environment and tools
- Robotics systems
The following are summarised scenarios based on different g -forces (i.e. 0-g during planetary transit, 10-6 g in LEO, 0.16 g on the Moon, 0.38 g on Mars). Four main different possible mission scenarios analysed from the point of view of crew well- being, safety and health management and utilisation perspectives have been identified:
- Scenario 1: LEO (ISS)
- Scenario 2: On the Moon surface
- Scenario 3: During transit from Earth to Mars
- Scenario 4: On Mars surface
VR Utilization
- as On-board System
- as Environment for Design and Development Process
Mission and Habitation Modules for Lunar Base Mission
Mission Module: Human-Machine Interface
- Implementation of audio and video systems for communications with other modules and with Mission Control (considering and overcoming time lags)
- Implementation of advanced techniques for HCI (i.e. VR, BCI etc.) to allow implementation of low mass distributed interaction system. The same system may support personal communication, training and leisure.
Scenario 1 Mission Module VR as On-board System to support communication, training and leisure
Scenario 2: Habitation Module
VR for developing Habitat Module Concepts. Example: Evaluation of Area Allocations per functions Fig. 3.1-1 Different Modules for Lunar exploration (collaboration Boeing-AAS-I)
- ensure consistent and intuitive operator interfaces
- develop “haptic devices” to support psychological issues in confined environment
Example of scenario: Mission Scenario: With LSAM, transport Crew to and from Lunar Surface/Provide Living and Working Conditions while on the Lunar Surface
- Habitation conditions: 1/6 g (lunar surface) 0 g (in orbit)
- 4 crew in “habitable volume” for 16 days
Design guidelines:
- Human Body Orientation
- Posture Strategies
- Crew Behaviour (Tasks, Functions, Time)
need to:
- reconfigure the MM internal layout to optimize the “habitable volume”
- develop flexible, transformable, reconfigurable design
- improve innovative technologies based on “Human Centred Design” approach
Habitation Module: design concepts
The main technological aspects which will be considered to define habitat simulation scenarios are the following:
- object interaction (behavioural models, grasping object, smart objects)
- virtual/real interaction
- virtual human behaviour simulation (individual, groups and crowds):
- kinetic activities (gestures, postural shifts)
- non verbal behaviour (proxemic choice, distance, angle) during member’s interactions
Therefore, time, space, social roles and task typologies need dedicated tools to define a new index of socialization and comfort to orient innovative design concepts.
VR as onboard system to support communication, training and leisure
VR for developing Habitat Module Concepts
Multi-Sensorial Environments
Relaxation and Recreation rooms
Develop the Concept of a Relaxation Room (multi-sensorial environment) (from TAS-I for ESA Space Heaven studies)
Fig. 3.2-1 Relaxation Room (TAS-I project for ESA Space Heaven studies)
Additional studies to better understand the effects exerted by colour, aesthetics, illumination and other human sensorial stimuli (for example odour) on space extreme environments. The activity foresees the study of effects using VR simulated environments on ground and verification with in-orbit dedicated experiments
Robotics and Autonomous Agent systems
The use of robots, in long duration missions as well as in “routine” orbital flights, represents an interesting opportunity for the future of space flights and space exploration; robots can help human astronauts in doing special tasks or even replace them when the operational environment is hazardous.
Fig. 3.3-1 EVA task supported by robot (on-going project TAS-I)
Therefore, we can identify the following main applications of VR:
- VR to train astronauts to control/interact with robots (on the ground, prior to missions);
- VR (expecially with haptic systems) to be used from a ground station to remotely control a robot or vehicle (immersive control);
- VR to be used by astronauts in real space mission, to control or interact with a robotic system (multiple haptic feedback and not traditional controls).
To control and interact with robots, Haptic Device Tools have to be developed
The above scenarios are correlated with the research fields reflected in points 3 to 9 listed in paragraph 4.3.
