Safe and precise piloted lunar landings require control inputs that depend on an accurate perception of vehicle orientation and motion. However, the unique environment and motions experienced during a lunar landing trajectory may lead to misperceptions in vehicle state. Eight subjects participated in a human subject experiment in the NASA Ames vertical motion simulator, where self-reports of perceptions of vehicle tilt angle and horizontal velocity were made during lunar-landing-like motions. Three cases of sensory cues were studied: Subjects were blindfolded and given no visual cues; subjects were provided a simulated dynamic view of the lunar terrain out a forward-looking window; and subjects were provided dynamic instrument displays showing current vehicle states. Subjects’ perception indications differed substantially from the motions being simulated in the blindfolded and out-the-window conditions, but were better matched when viewing instrument displays. Subject perceptions were also compared with predictions from a numerical model of orientation perception, and qualitatively matched in the blindfolded case, but were less well aligned in the out-the-window case. These types of misperceptions may impact astronaut control inputs and degrade vehicle performance and safety.


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    Title :

    Human Spatial Orientation Perception During Simulated Lunar Landing Motions



    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2014-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





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