Computer science doctoral student Hiroshi Furuya uses a virtual reality headset to simulate a moon mission, aiming to improve human decision-making and astronaut - autonomous system interactions. (Photo by Melanie Cedeno-Lopez)

When humans return to the moon, they won't be alone. NASA will send robotic machines with them, and like all relationships, trust will be critical.

Through a partnership with Cislune Inc., UCF is using immersive technologies to improve trust between humans and artificial intelligence for decision-making in space when circumstances are changing and data remains uncertain - ultimately ensuring astronaut safety and mission success.

Led by UCF Associate Professor Gerd Bruder as principal investigator, Phase I of the project was funded through a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant in which UCF collaborated with Cislune to design and build a moon mission simulator. The system was used to refine human decision-making behavior and optimize interactions between astronauts and autonomous systems across the mission timeline.

The project aims to help reduce cognitive workload for astronauts while enhancing critical data, such as breathable oxygen levels, propellant stores and rover range. It's also an example of how Knights are developing tech solutions that will propel humanity's possibilities in space, which UCF was founded to fuel.

"In future lunar missions, humans will be working in concert with highly autonomous machines - and both will be making decisions while inundated with data from an ever-growing network of sensors and computers," says Hiroshi Furuya, a UCF computer science doctoral student and graduate research assistant who worked on the project.

Cislune provided insights into space mission operations from previous work with space robotics and rovers, while experts from UCF's Synthetic Reality Lab (SREAL) supplied expertise in using virtual reality (VR) to create immersive simulations. The collaboration highlights how UCF often works with industry to generate collective impact.

UCF's team leveraged interdisciplinary knowledge from computer science, engineering and human factors in healthcare - examining decision support systems designed for nurses and medical professionals.

"The healthcare research gave us an insightful window into how practitioners evaluate systems when risk and time pressure are critical features of the workplace, which has important connections for space health and missions," says Furuya, who was previously awarded a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for his graduate studies.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation Gregory Welch, co-director of SREAL, provided insights into factors that influence trust and the design of human subject experiments.

"I find it fascinating how seemingly subtle changes in how relevant information is conveyed can impact trust and decision making," says Welch, a computer scientist and engineer in UCF's College of Nursing.

The team studied how human-machine trust, uncertainty and decision-making intersect by using VR simulations. The resulting simulator prototype immerses users in a realistic, mission-relevant environment.

The simulator could be crucial not only for the Artemis program, but also for future lunar and deep space exploration missions.

Cislune and UCF have submitted a proposal for Phase II of the project, which will expand the simulator and conduct research studies to improve the way machine assistants can help astronauts make decisions under stress and uncertainty.

Related Links
Cislune Inc.
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more