SBIR/STTR
A Virtual Social Support System for Long-Duration Space Exploration Missions, Phase I
Project Introduction
Our overall goal is to enhance the overall behavior health and performance of personnel on (future potential) long-duration missions. We propose to use a local representation of the Second Life virtual world, along with our computer graphics and artificial intelligence background, to make a highly interactive and responsive environment between groups of people that are literally worlds apart in communication distance. By having the interactions occur this way, there is no communication latency that needs to be dealt with, because content is updated asynchronously. We will also leverage and adapt our Automated Behavior and Cohesion Assessment Tools system, previously developed under a recent NASA Phase II SBIR, to measure behavior health and performance.
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Anticipated Benefits
This technology could be applied to all current and future NASA missions. While it is being developed for application to long duration space flight operations, the techniques are amenable to application in shorter duration flight operations as well, such as related to the International Space Station and Space Shuttle. This is particularly true with respect to behavioral and psychological health (whereas crew cohesiveness is anticipated to be less of an issue as duration decreases). This behavioral modeling technology could also be applied to NASA's Aerospace activities. For example, it could be used to measure stress on air traffic controllers. Adaptation to commercial airlines, in which the standardized procedures and repetitive nature of their execution within the close confines of an aircraft facilitates the modeling and establishment of norms for the behavior for individual crew.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Houston, TX |
| Cybernet Systems Corporation | Supporting Organization | Industry | Ann Arbor, MI |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Michigan
-
Texas
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Johnson Space Center (JSC)
Responsible Program:
- SBIR/STTR
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Project Manager:
Principal Investigator:
- Charles J Cohen
Project Duration
Start: May 2013
End: Nov 2013
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 4 |
| Current: | 4 |
| Estimated End: | 6 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 6 Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems
- TA 6.3 Human Health and Performance
- TA 6.3.3 Behavioral Health