Olu Olofinboba

A Systematic Tool for Deriving Crew Console Layouts

This paper describes the use of the Function Allocation Matrix Tool (FAMT) for designing spacecraft cockpit layouts. NASAs Constellation Program intends to return humans to the moon by 2020, followed by exploration to Mars and beyond. The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) will serve as primary vehicle for transporting the crew. Orion will be equipped with a modern ‘glass cockpit’ that will allow the operators to command and control all of the vehicles systems via graphics-based displays not unlike those now common in modern flight decks. The design of Orions displays and controls places an increased emphasis on human-computer interaction and usability. In particular, the use of the FAMT drove the process of allocating displays and controls to reach and visual zones within the CEV 604 configuration cockpit. The result was the baseline display and control configuration for the Orion spacecraft.

Design of a Cursor Control Device for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle

NASA has embarked on a new program to develop vehicles for returning humans to the Moon by 2020. The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) will replace the Space Shuttle and serve as the primary vehicle for transporting the crew. Orion will be equipped with a modern “glass cockpit” that will allow operators to command and control all of the vehicles systems from one of two operator stations. The design of Orions operator stations creates some unique human-machine interface issues due primarily to the vehicle design and the extreme conditions the crew must operate in. One of the unique challenges for Orion is the need for a novel cursor control device that allows the crew to interact with the vehicle while seated and restrained. This paper describes some of the human factors challenges of designing such a device as well as the process that was employed.

A task-based reach-zone analysis of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle controls

The Function Allocation Matrix Tool (FAMT) is applied as the basis of a reach zone analysis for the controls of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. NASAs Constellation Program intends to return humans to the moon by 2020, followed by exploration to Mars and beyond. Orion will serve as the primary crew transport vehicle, and will be equipped with a modern ‘glass cockpit’ to allow operators to command and control all of the vehicles systems from one of two operator stations. It will have a fraction of the buttons, switches, and dials found on the Space Shuttle flight deck. Instead, operators will monitor and command the vehicles systems via graphics-based displays; thus the design of Orions displays and controls places an increased emphasis on human-computer interaction and usability. It is therefore necessary to place controls in appropriate reach zones, defined as three-dimensional envelopes that define reach limits and boundaries within the Orion cockpit operator station. The FAMT is a systematic analysis tool with which to determine the appropriate location of cockpit controls and displays needed to support mission priorities. While the tool was originally designed for investigating incremental functionality additions to existing cockpits, it has been applied to Orion toward design of a completely new cockpit, and has played a crucial role in determining the minimum recommended reach zones for each control needed by the operator to complete their assigned tasks.

ISS as a testbed for advanced health management and automation technologies

Achieving a sustainable exploration program requires development of a foundation of knowledge, validated technologies, and tools that support safe/reliable, affordable, effective, and flexible systems. Furthermore, the exploration program requires new paradigms in program execution and mission operations to meet both technical and budgetary challenges of space exploration missions. New technologies in a wide spectrum of applications must be developed, matured and implemented in spacecraft and mission operations, from vehicle subsystem components to health management and automation applications. In many of these areas, the performance of new technology can be examined and validated in laboratory settings, other ground facilities or un-manned space platforms. However, to develop, mature, and validate new technologies that enable new systems and mission management capabilities necessary to support long duration manned missions beyond LEO, highly relevant operational environments and data for manned spaceflight applications are necessary. Extensive interaction between state-of-the-art technology developers and the operations community is crucial for the successful evolution of relevant technology from development labs to on-board future space systems. New or existing platforms where relevant environments and data are available for this purpose, and where the developer-operator collaboration can occur, need to be identified and made available. The International Space Station (ISS) is one of the few platforms where abundant data of complex human-rated systems is available, both on-board the spacecraft and on the ground. Additionally, the extended-duration mission profile of ISS provides opportunities for the operations community, including on-board crew and flight control team (FCT), to evaluate and gain familiarity with new technologies and capabilities to execute mission operations, thus reducing the risk of implementation and maximizing the relevancy of the new applications. The ISS provides a unique, long-term on-orbit operations environment to mature and validate technologies that directly impact on-board vehicle/crew autonomy and mission operations. This paper provides an evaluation of using ISS as a platform to mature and validate new technologies in health management and automation, which directly impact future spacecraft systems and mission management. The evaluation includes a review of the following: current ISS on-board architecture and data, as well as ground facilities, such as Mission Control Center, training facilities and existing testbeds, to enable the platform functions candidate technologies in health management and automation to be evaluated, in the areas of integrated system health management, automated mission planning, automated command and procedure execution, and human computer interface

Perceptual Grouping Effects on Cursor Movement Expectations

Objective: Two studies were conducted to develop an understanding of factors that drive user expectations when navigating between discrete elements on a display via a limited degree-of-freedom cursor control device. Background: For the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle spacecraft, a free-floating cursor with a graphical user interface (GUI) would require an unachievable level of accuracy due to expected acceleration and vibration conditions during dynamic phases of flight. Therefore, Orion program proposed using a “caged” cursor to “jump” from one controllable element (node) on the GUI to another. However, nodes are not likely to be arranged on a rectilinear grid, and so movements between nodes are not obvious. Method: Proximity between nodes, direction of nodes relative to each other, and context features may all contribute to user cursor movement expectations. In an initial study, we examined user expectations based on the nodes themselves. In a second study, we examined the effect of context features on user expectations. Results: The studies established that perceptual grouping effects influence expectations to varying degrees. Based on these results, a simple rule set was developed to support users in building a straightforward mental model that closely matches their natural expectations for cursor movement. Conclusion: The results will help designers of display formats take advantage of the natural context-driven cursor movement expectations of users to reduce navigation errors, increase usability, and decrease access time. Application: The rules set and guidelines tie theory to practice and can be applied in environments where vibration or acceleration are significant, including spacecraft, aircraft, and automobiles.

Deriving Cursor Control Device Expectations for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle

A unique challenge for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle is the need for a novel cursor control device (CCD) that allows the crew to interact with display formats while seated and restrained. Display formats will contain “controllable elements” that will be used for input by astronauts, and will most likely not be laid out in a rectilinear grid. A four-way “caged” castle switch on the CCD was designed to travel only to controllable elements toward decreasing erroneous cursor movements. The ability of the four-way castle to intuitively navigate the cursor from a user perspective is a vital consideration. A cursor expectations study was conducted to understand dominant user expectations for CCD movements when controllable elements are not arranged on a rectilinear grid. Algorithms were developed that governed cursor movement in such a way as to match the dominant user expectations, to support the development of user mental models for cursor behavior, and to guide designers when laying out display formats.

Human-system interfaces design

Abstract In order to provide some guidance for preventing human interface problems that could affect human performance and safety during a space mission, this chapter on human-system interface design primarily covers the design of the cockpit, from a technical and process point of view, and the related design of visual-aural alert system and crew seats. In addition, this chapter covers the topic of “contact hazards” with reference to sharp edges, touch temperature, and the specific issue of electroshock hazards during extravehicular activities (EVA).

Human Centered design of an In-Trail Procedures (ITP) system

This paper provides an overview of a development program to design and certify an In-Trail Procedures (ITP) system for the Boeing 747-400 aircraft. ITP offers aircraft broader flexibility to change flight levels during oceanic flight. The classical elements of a Human Centered Design (HCD) process were integrated within a commercial systems engineering process to develop the system. Previously reported user difficulties in formulating ITP clearances, design challenges posed by touch screen user interfaces and retrofit avionics architecture, as well as the associated certification challenges were addressed during the program. Data from both simulator and in-flight evaluations confirm that pilots are able to perform the intended function under a broad range of operational conditions. The ITP system has undergone successful certification and is operational on a Convair 580 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

Designing an Implementable User-Oriented Objective Function for MANETs

Communication networks are usually managed with network-oriented objectives such as throughput and latency. However, in military networks, these objectives are inappropriate; instead, objectives should be oriented to the mission and network stakeholder perspectives. A satisfactory objective function must exhibit the following characteristics: (i) operationally meaningful, (ii) sufficiently flexible, (iii) easy to modify, and (iv) implementable and optimizable in practice. In this paper, we present an approach to designing an implementable, operationally meaningful objective function.