Towards evaluating astronaut’s performance via proprioception perception analysis through stimulation of the nervous system

Recent studies have found that many basic mental abilities, like motivation, attention, problem-solving skills, and sensorimotor skills such as body coordination, seem to deteriorate in space, particularly during long- duration space missions. The main objective of this work is to develop a methodology that will assist in evaluating astronauts’ performance and identify parameters or key indicators that can be used to monitor decrements in users’ performance. The goal is that through the implementation of this methodology, we should be able to detect at early-stage potential sensorimotor problems or mental problems. For this work, we are combining a body-tracking system named VICON with sensor technologies named K-Invent Forces. Vicon Nexus is a modeling and processing system used for movement analysis, while K-Invent wireless devices can assess subject forces in real-time. The user’s performance will be supervised by executing a set of interactive activities. If key indicators can be identified during subject interaction, a set of aspects can be identified and used to improve crew members’ immersion, motivation, attention, and body coordination. Using MATLAB, a numeric computing environment, we will analyze data or variables imported from Vicon Nexus (e.g., joint angles and positions, accelerations, etc.) and K-Invent (e.g., forces, position, etc.) in real-time and offline. We expect to create a methodology that will assist in identifying and detecting key indicators to decrements in user’s performance, which can also be used as a platform to mitigate the problem by generating detection, prevention, and treatment programs that target sensorimotor skills and mental abilities.