Audio feedback system for engineering test satellite VII:

Abstract

An efficient and reliable interface to manage telemetry information is most important in the teleoperation of space robots. Operators need to be able to recognize and verify large amounts of telemetry information quickly and accurately. Visual information around the workspace of space robots is very limited, and the detailed position of work is uncertain. These difficulties raise the load on operators. We have been running experiments on assembling antennas using the Engineering Test Satellite VII (ETS-VII), so we are very much aware of the need for an effective man-machine interface to handle telemetry information. We have developed an audio interface system for the efficient operation of ETS-VII. Unlike a visual interface, this audio interface allows an operator to (1) perceive information even if pay small attention for it, and (2) easily identify trends and changes. The system analyzes telemetry information in real- time, and converts changes in the status of information into voice data, and changes in the magnitude of forces into the frequency of motor noise. The effectiveness of this audio interface was verified in operations of ETS-VII by monitoring eye movements over time. Time is measured by the mean interval between status changes and command submissions. An eye mark recorder records eye movements. The data suggests significant effects of the audio interface system.