CAMS as a tool for human factors research in spaceflight.
The paper reviews a number of research studies that were carried out with a PC-based task environment called Cabin Air Management System (CAMS) simulating the operation of a spacecraft's life support system. As CAMS was a multiple task environment, it allowed the measurement of performance at different levels. Four task components of different priority were embedded in the task environment: diagnosis and repair of system faults, maintaining atmospheric parameters in a safe state, acknowledgement of system alarms (reaction time), and keeping a record of critical system resources (prospective memory). Furthermore, the task environment permitted the examination of different task management strategies and changes in crew member state (fatigue, anxiety, mental effort). A major goal of the research programme was to examine how crew members adapted to various forms of sub-optimal working conditions, such as isolation and confinement, sleep deprivation and noise. None of the studies provided evidence for decrements in primary task performance. However, the results showed a number of adaptive responses of crew members to adjust to the different sub-optimal working conditions. There was evidence for adjustments in information sampling strategies (usually reductions in sampling frequency) as a result of unfavourable working conditions. The results also showed selected decrements in secondary task performance. Prospective memory seemed to be somewhat more vulnerable to sub-optimal working conditions than performance on the reaction time task. Finally, suggestions are made for future research with the CAMS environment.
Sauer
Juergen
J
Institute of Psychology, Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany. sauer@psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D018480:Astronauts; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D008021:Life Support Systems; D008568:Memory; D011930:Reaction Time; D013026:Space Flight; D018561:Space Simulation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis