Control performance with three translational degrees of freedom
article
For multiple DOF systems, it is important to detemine how accurately operators can control each DOF, and what the influence of the perceptual, information processing and psychomotor components on performance is. Sixteen right-handed male students participated in 2 experiments: one involving positioning and one involving tracking with 3 translational DOFs. We used two control-display mappings that differed in the coupling of the vertical and depth dimensions to the up-down and fore-aft control axes, to separate perceptual and psychomotor effects. We observed information processing effects in the positioning task: Initial error correction on the vertical dimension lagged in time behind the horizontal dimension. The depth dimension error correction lagged behind both, which was ascribed to the poorer perceptual information. We observed this perceptual effect aIso in the tracking experiment: Tracking error along the depth dimension was 3.8 times larger than along the other dimensions. Motor effects were also present, with tracking errors along the up-down axis of the handcontroller being 1.1 times larger than along the fore-aft axis. These results indicate that all three components contribute to control performance. Actua1 applications of this research include interface design for remote control and virtual reality applications.
Topics
Data processingDegrees of freedom (mechanics)Remote controlResearchSensory perceptionMachine operatorsAbility testingcontrol strategyeye trackinghuman experimenthuman factors researchinformation processingoperatorperceptionperformancepsychomotor activityright handednessstudentvirtual realityAdultHumansMaleMotor SkillsSpace PerceptionTask Performance and Analysismanual controltrackingdesignvirtual realityperceptual motor skills
TNO Identifier
11463
Source
Human Factors, 44(1), pp. 144 - 155.
Pages
144 - 155