30 research outputs found

    2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy

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    This document is an update (new photos used) of the PDF version of the 2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy that will be available to download on the OCT Public Website. The updated 2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy, or "technology dictionary", uses a technology discipline based approach that realigns like-technologies independent of their application within the NASA mission portfolio. This tool is meant to serve as a common technology discipline-based communication tool across the agency and with its partners in other government agencies, academia, industry, and across the world

    Enhancing Situational Awareness for Rotorcraft Pilots Using Virtual and Augmented Reality

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    Rotorcraft pilots often face the challenge of processing a multitude of data, integrating it with prior experience and making informed decisions in complex, rapidly changing multisensory environments. Virtual Reality (VR), and more recently Augmented Reality (AR) technologies have been applied for providing users with immersive, interactive and navigable experiences. The research work described in this thesis demonstrates that VR/AR are particularly effective in providing real-time information without detracting from the pilot\u27s mission in both civilian and military engagements. The immersion of the pilot inside of the VR model provides enhanced realism. Interaction with the VR environment allows pilots to practice appropriately responding to simulated threats. Navigation allows the VR environment to change with varying parameters. In this thesis, VR/AR environments are applied for the design and development of a head-up display (HUD) for helicopter pilots. The usability of the HUD that is developed as a part of this thesis is assessed using established frameworks for human systems engineering by incorporating best practices for user-centered design. The research work described in this thesis will demonstrate that VR/AR environments can provide flexible, ergonomic, and user-focused interfaces for real-time operations in complex, multisensory environments

    INERTIAL MOTION CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS IN PRESSURE SUITS

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    A non-invasive system has been developed at the University of Maryland Space System Laboratory with the goal of providing a new capability for quantifying the motion of the human inside a space suit. Based on an array of six microprocessors and eighteen microelectromechanical (MEMS) inertial measurement units (IMUs), the Body Pose Measurement System (BPMS) allows the monitoring of the kinematics of the suit occupant in an unobtrusive, self-contained, lightweight and compact fashion, without requiring any external equipment such as those necessary with modern optical motion capture systems. BPMS measures and stores the accelerations, angular rates and magnetic fields acting upon each IMU, which are mounted on the head, torso, and each segment of each limb. In order to convert the raw data into a more useful form, such as a set of body segment angles quantifying pose and motion, a series of geometrical models and a non-linear complimentary filter were implemented. The first portion of this works focuses on assessing system performance, which was measured by comparing the BPMS filtered data against rigid body angles measured through an external VICON optical motion capture system. This type of system is the industry standard, and is used here for independent measurement of body pose angles. By comparing the two sets of data, performance metrics such as BPMS system operational conditions, accuracy, and drift were evaluated and correlated against VICON data. After the system and models were verified and their capabilities and limitations assessed, a series of pressure suit evaluations were conducted. Three different pressure suits were used to identify the relationship between usable range of motion and internal suit pressure. In addition to addressing range of motion, a series of exploration tasks were also performed, recorded, and analysed in order to identify different motion patterns and trajectories as suit pressure is increased and overall suit mobility is reduced. The focus of these evaluations was to quantify the reduction in mobility when operating in any of the evaluated pressure suits. This data should be of value in defining new low cost alternatives for pressure suit performance verification and evaluation. This work demonstrates that the BPMS technology is a viable alternative or companion to optical motion capture; while BPMS is the first motion capture system that has been designed specifically to measure the kinematics of a human in a pressure suit, its capabilities are not constrained to just being a measurement tool. The last section of the manuscript is devoted to future possible uses for the system, with a specific focus on pressure suit applications such in the use of BPMS as a master control interface for robot teleoperation, as well as an input interface for future robotically augmented pressure suits

    Minimally Invasive Expeditionary Surgical Care Using Human-Inspired Robots

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    This technical report serves as an updated collection of subject matter experts on surgical care using human-inspired robotics for human exploration. It is a summary of the Blue Sky Meeting, organized by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), Pensacola, Florida, and held on October 2-3, 2018. It contains an executive summary, the final report, all of the presentation materials, and an updated reference list

    Aerospace medicine and biology: A cumulative index to a continuing bibliography (supplement 384)

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    This publication is a cumulative index to the abstracts contained in Supplements 372 through 383 of Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A Continuing Bibliography. It includes seven indexes: subject, personal author, corporate source, foreign technology, contract number, report number, and accession number

    12th Man in Space Symposium: The Future of Humans in Space. Abstract Volume

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    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is pleased to host the 12th IAA Man in Space Symposium. A truly international forum, this symposium brings together scientists, engineers, and managers interested in all aspects of human space flight to share the most recent research results and space agency planning related to the future of humans in space. As we look out at the universe from our own uniquely human perspective, we see a world that we affect at the same time that it affects us. Our tomorrows are highlighted by the possibilities generated by our knowledge, our drive, and our dreams. This symposium will examine our future in space from the springboard of our achievements

    Aerospace medicine and biology: A cumulative index to a continuing bibliography (supplement 358)

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    This publication is a cumulative index to the abstracts contained in Supplements 346 through 357 of Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A Continuing Bibliography. It includes seven indexes: subject, personal author, corporate source, foreign technology, contract number, report number and accession number

    Design and Evaluation of an Adaptive Virtual Reality-Based Training System

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    Successful operation of military aviation depends on effective pilot training. The current training capabilities of the United States Air Force might not be sufficient to meet the demand for new pilots. To help resolve this issue, this study focused on developing a prototype of an adaptive virtual reality (VR) training system. The system was built leveraging the three key elements of an adaptive training system including the trainee鈥檚 performance measures, adaptive logic, and adaptive variables. The prototype was based on a procedure for an F-16 cockpit and included adaptive feedback, display features, and various difficulty levels to help trainees maintain an optimal level of cognitive workload while completing their training. After conducting a pilot study with 14 participants, a trend favoring the use of adaptive training was identified. Results suggest that adaptive training could improve performance and reduce workload as compared to the traditional non-adaptive VR-based training. Further work is required to further validate the findings with a larger sample size. Implementation of adaptive VR training has the potential to reduce training time and cost. The results from this study can assist in developing future adaptive VR-training systems

    Life Sciences Program Tasks and Bibliography for FY 1997

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    This document includes information on all peer reviewed projects funded by the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, Life Sciences Division during fiscal year 1997. This document will be published annually and made available to scientists in the space life sciences field both as a hard copy and as an interactive internet web page

    ISMCR 1994: Topical Workshop on Virtual Reality. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Measurement and Control in Robotics

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    This symposium on measurement and control in robotics included sessions on: (1) rendering, including tactile perception and applied virtual reality; (2) applications in simulated medical procedures and telerobotics; (3) tracking sensors in a virtual environment; (4) displays for virtual reality applications; (5) sensory feedback including a virtual environment application with partial gravity simulation; and (6) applications in education, entertainment, technical writing, and animation
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