Developing familiarization training game for extended reality spacesuit user interface

Weihe, M., Schoonover, M., Waits, K., Pate, A., McKeown, B., Beran, R., Painter, A., Nawarkar, P., Patterson, J.A., & Amick, R.Z. Developing familiarization training game for extended reality spacesuit user interface. -- Fyre in STEM Showcase, 2024.

Abstract

NASA astronauts do not have access to feasibly replicable training environments and instead rely on virtual simulations for proper preparations. However, astronauts often do not have prior experiences in these virtual reality spaces or prior knowledge of the controls or functions. Developing a game-orientated virtual familiarization training protocol provides NASA astronauts with experience in the extended reality user interface in a head-mounted display. This familiarization training game was developed in virtual reality (VR) using the software Unreal Engine (UE) 5.2.1 and built to be displayed in a Meta Quest Pro HMD headset. To gather data, a human-in-the-loop (HITL) testing protocol was utilized that uses rapid iterative OXYGEN testing and evaluation (RITE) with think-aloud protocol and the System Usability Scale (SUS) digital survey. Participants are requested to test the software multiple times over a several-month period by completing the quests in the familiarization video game to track usability improvements over time. The participant's first test is used as a control utilizing the verbal and survey feedback given during and after the trial to compare with future tests. The results from the HTL testing revealed that prior VR templates in Unreal Engines (UE) presented limitations for developing custom interactions. Furthermore, this project contributed a prototype for scalable future research and development projects.

Description

Poster and abstract presented at the FYRE in STEM Showcase, 2024.
Research project completed at the Department of Economics; College of Innovation and Design; School of Art, Design, and Creative Industries; Department of Aerospace Engineering; Department of Psychology; School of Computing; Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR); NASA Johnson Space Center

Publisher

Wichita State University

Series

FYRE in STEM 2024

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/10057/27775

Collections

FYRE in STEM 2024