3. EXPERIMENT

3.1. Design

The experimental design is a quasi-experimental single-variable design. The independent variable is the display type, either panel-mounted or helmet-mounted, and the controls for validity are limited to those normally associated with a stratified sampling technique.

3.2. Method

3.3. Apparatus

The apparatus used in the study was a portion of the BAT (Beam Assembly Teleoperator) device located at the Space Systems Laboratory of the University of Maryland. Click here to see a photo of the apparatus.

The operator's station consisted of a vehicle-type seat with panel in front of the subject similar to that of a car dashboard (click here to see image) Mounted on this panel was a joystick, in an anthropometric location similar to that of resting the arm at an angle so that the elbow bend was approximately 90 degrees (and aligned with the torso longitudinal axis) , and the wrist is shoulder height while seated.