Augmented Reality Assessments to Support Human Spaceflight Performance Evaluation

As next-generation space exploration missions require increased autonomy from crews, real-time diagnostics of astronaut health and performance are essential for mission operations, especially for determining extravehicular activity readiness. An augmented reality (AR) system may be a viable tool allowing holographic visual cueing to replace physical objects used in traditional assessments.

In this study, 20 healthy adults were compared in an Ingress and Egress Task and Obstacle Weave Task with holographic and physical objects to determine the effect of AR on performance. Subjects performed each task three times within each modality.

AR exhibited increased task completion times with greater head pitch angles across the two tasks. The head and torso angular velocity showed a reduction in magnitude in both tasks within AR, while decreased magnitudes of head and torso acceleration were observed for the Obstacle Weave Task. The subjects were more deliberate and careful in their task completion during the Ingress and Egress Task within AR, stepping higher and lowering their heads further.

Subjects successfully completed both tasks using AR and meaningful assessments of their performance were obtained. The increased head pitch observed supported the hologram visualization with the reduced AR field of view. The increased task time and reduced torso angular velocity were compared to strategies used by astronauts postflight while experiencing sensorimotor impairments. AR may be a useful instrumentation solution for assessing in-flight performance, providing embedded sensors and onboard computations; however, thresholds for assessing extravehicular activity readiness must be developed. Weiss H, Stirling L. Augmented reality assessments to support human spaceflight performance evaluation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(11):831-840.