On-orbit mission assisting and supporting system based on AR

Abstract

Objective In the future deep-space exploiting missions, due to communication delay, astronauts cannot depend on the instructions of control center completely. In the long-duration on-orbit missions, astronauts are likely to disremember the operation procedures of some tasks that ever be performed seldom, despite they had been trained on the ground in advance. To help astronauts to cope with these situation by themselves, AR, which can enhance human's perception and interaction with the real world, is a feasible solution. Methods Applying AR, such as three-dimensional registration and perspective projection, assisting information of the task procedure was superimposed on the real scenes, whose showing pace was controlled by voice instructions, so astronauts can focus their hands on their tasks, referencing assisting information to do their work. Results A prototype system was realized based on AR, which can help astronaut to do operation of a specific device. Conclusion The AR assisting system affords an effective tool for astronaut task supporting and training on orbit and also adapts to training on ground and has an expansive applying prospect. © 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.