Deriving Human-Centered Engineering Design Requirements for Exploration Extravehicular Activity Work Aids through Narrative-Rich Use Case Scenarios

Abstract

Upcoming exploration extravehicular activity (EVA) will require crew to perform field geology to accomplish mission science goals. To support crew during science operations, technological work aids are being developed. However, deploying novel technologies inherently changes the characteristics of a work domain, which may introduce undesired work demands on operators. In this study, terrestrial field geologists were interviewed to derive human-centered engineering design requirements that help guide ongoing system development efforts to mitigate the human spaceflight risks of adverse mission outcomes due to Earth-independent human-systems operations and risk of injury and compromised performance during EVA operations. Engineering design requirements were synthesized from geologist feedback on narrative-rich use cases. These cases presented contextual scenarios of proposed exploration EVA work aids and function allocations between human and robotic agents to elicit decision-making influences. Engineering design requirements synthesized from this study can be adopted to improve human health and performance for planetary science operations.