Challenge to solve
The costs to get astronauts into space are enormous, so their time in space is fully planned and great
efforts are taken to reduce wasting time. To prepare astronauts for the physical, mental, and technical demands of space missions, they must spend a significant amount of time training on Earth.
For this reason, astronauts must receive enough quality training to carry out their missions
successfully, completing the tasks required. ESA looks to solutions that enable high-fidelity training in effective, cost-efficient ways. To fulfill this, Misterine turned to SenseGlove as an ideal solution for
increasing the realism of virtual interactions for aerospace training for the ESA.
Implementation of haptic gloves
Misterine demonstrated the no-code VR training platform they created with a training scenario for
astronauts at the ESA, designed to teach users how to perform maintenance on a system aboard the
International Space Station. To make this VR training even more effective and realistic, they
integrated the Nova 2 haptic gloves into this virtual environment.
With the gloves, users were able to handle tools and carry out crucial tasks with lifelike movements.
They could learn how to replace parts, loosen bolts, remove panels, and disconnect connectors,
getting to feel all the virtual tools and components as they interacted with them.
The results
VR haptics eliminates many of the logistical challenges associated with traditional hands-on training
methods and drastically reduces training costs, all while ensuring trainees receive the preparation
they need for complex missions. By interacting with components in a realistic manner with the Nova 2 gloves, users can build muscle memory as they train, leading to better skill retention and increased performance in real-life situations.
Upgrading to the Nova 2 haptic gloves allowed Misterine to not only create a more immersive
experience through the increased physicality of the interactions and improved user experience, but
also ultimately provide a more efficient learning of procedures that are critical for astronauts at ESA to master.
