Developing an Integrated Heads-Up Display for Astronauts
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Date
2020Author
Fox, Katheryn
Karsalia, Radhika
Kunze, Jillian
Neisess, Christoph
Peters, Zachary
Rao, Roshan
Sack, Brady
Sieh, Matthew
Skoletsky, Ryan
Szanto, Shelly
Wilkin, Matthew
Advisor
Akin, David
DRUM DOI
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
During extravehicular activities (EVAs), also known as spacewalks, astronauts are exposed
to the hazardous conditions of space. Therefore, they must accomplish tasks quickly and have easy
access to important information. This study aimed to investigate the effect of heads-up displays
(HUDs) on astronaut performance during a maintenance-focused EVA. We first compared users’
completion times, comfort, and other factors while they performed operations on a task board using
audio instructions, using instructions on an off-the-shelf Microsoft HoloLens HUD, or using a
combination of the two. These tests showed a decrease in average mental demand as well as a
decrease in mean task completion time for the combined HoloLens and audio as compared to the
HoloLens or audio alone. Using these results, we designed and fabricated two versions of a display
integrated with an astronaut helmet: (1) a screen system mounted outside the helmet in the lower
right of the wearer’s comfortable vision range and (2) a projector integrated into the structure of
the helmet that projects onto glass in the wearer’s upper field of view. By making important task
information more accessible, our prototypes have the potential to increase astronaut safety by
decreasing the time they spend on EVAs. Results from testing show that users perform better with
and prefer a visual display in addition to audio communication. This means a visual display can
help reduce the duration of an EVA while keeping the user comfortable and focused.
Notes
Gemstone Team VISOR