Adaptive Strategies of Remote Systems Operators Exposed to Perturbed Camera-Viewing Conditions

Abstract

Perturbed camera views (e.g., reversed, inverted/reversed, inverted) will often be the primary mode of visual feedback for remote manipulator operators during the assembly, maintenance, and servicing of NASA's existing as well as future space craft and installations. This report describes a preliminary investigation of the use of perturbed visual feedback during the performance of simulated space-based remote manipulation tasks. The primary objective of this NASA evaluation was to determine to what extent operators exhibit adaptive strategies which allow them to perform these specific types of remote manipulation tasks more efficiently while exposed to perturbed visual feedback. A secondary objective of this evaluation was to establish a set of preliminary guidelines for enhancing remote manipulation performance and reducing the adverse effects. These objectives were accomplished by studying the remote manipulator performance of test subjects exposed to various perturbed camera-viewing conditions while performing a simulated space-based remote manipulation task. Statistical analysis of performance and subjective data revealed that remote manipulation performance was adversely affected by the use of perturbed visual feedback and performance tended to improve with successive trials in most perturbed viewing conditions. Information gathered in this study was then used to develop a set of adaptive strategies which can serve as an aid in the training of future remote systems operators and a set a preliminary guidelines concerning remotely operated systems design (e.g., camera placement, control system development, and workstation design).