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Multimodal astronaut virtual training prototype

A few dedicated training simulator applications exist that mix realistic interaction devices-like real cockpits in flight simulators-with virtual environment (VE) components. Dedicated virtual reality (VR) systems have been utilized also in astronaut training. However there are no detailed descriptions of projection wall VR systems and related interaction techniques for astronaut assembly training in zero gravity conditions. Back projection technology tends to have certain advantages over head mounted displays including less simulation sickness and less restricted user movement. A prototype was built to evaluate the usefulness of projection technology VEs and interaction techniques for astronaut training. This was achieved by first constructing a PC cluster-based general purpose VE software and hardware platform. This platform was used to implement a testing prototype for astronaut assembly sequence training. An interaction tool battery was designed for the purposes of viewpoint control and object handling. A selected training task was implemented as a case study for further analysis based on laptop usage in the Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) inside the Columbus module in the International Space Station (ISS). User tests were conducted on the usability of the prototype for the intended training purpose. The results seem to indicate that projection technology-based VE systems and suitably selected interaction techniques can be successfully utilized in zero gravity training operations.

Modelling and collaboration across organizations: Issues and a solution:

This article describes the results of the space cluster of the Use-it-wisely project, which is investigating new business models implementing continuous product-service adaptation through a sequence of small innovative steps in six key industry sectors (clusters): energy, machinery, space, office workspace, vehicles manufacturing and shipbuilding. Six independent cluster developments and a common platform compose the main output. The space cluster (composed by TAS-I, ALTEC and Vastalla) researches a quick response through the use of model-based and simulation-based processes enabled by distributed environments across different organizations. TAS-I and ALTEC study the use of a web-based environment, a model-based tool and virtual reality and its interfaces with potential customers, using an internal project as reference case, including space and ground segments. Vastalla studies and develops the infrastructure able to connect different environments in different networks, including a customer front-end. This article shows the identified issues on collaboration with model-based approaches and the expected benefits.

Space Systems Development

This chapter describes the Space cluster use case using the innovative Space Tug project as an example. It provides an overview of the objectives (customer in the loop, quicker technical response) and related methods to support foreseen improvements through a dedicated toolchain. The IT infrastructure used for the demonstration is used as an enabling and demonstrative system with a focus on modelling and collaboration aspects, as outlined in Chapter “ Extending the System Model”, on the flow of information, and on tool infrastructure and project costs. Descriptions of the developed tools are as follows: A web-based toolchain that includes functional analysis, discipline analysis, 3D modelling and virtual reality for project team collaboration. A workflow manager for collaboration between different companies. Small devices called ‘probes’ to ensure security and data protection in intercompany collaboration. A configurable customer front-end to ensure that the customer remains informed.

‘IXV-trajectory’ and ‘IXV-asset’: Virtual reality applications for the aerothermodynamics analysis of IXV

Design and engineering of space vehicles involve several different disciplines, each of which have specific research methodologies and software tools. Interaction among the physical analysis tools, as well as collaboration among teams, is a delicate and difficult subject of collaborative engineering research topics. This paper presents a solution based on a new technical and interaction design. We encourage the development of Virtual Reality 3D applications to interface the tools that perform the quantitative physical analysis of given space vehicles, as this approach improves productivity and communication effectiveness and brings consisting benefits to the engineering and design collaborative processes. As an evaluation of this method, we report the design and implementation of two Virtual Reality Applications specifically developed for the European Space Agencys space vehicle IXV. This evaluation showed that users found the Virtual Reality interface easy to use and likely to be useful in their own work. The benefits underlined by this method brought to the acquirement of this approach as the new future standard methodology in pre-launch phases of space vehicles.