[D77] Mitigating spatial disorientation with assistive tactile feedback

Summary form only given. Mitigation of spatial disorientation caused by disorders of the vestibular system or loss of horizon while maneuvering a space vehicle is demonstrated using a novel assistive tactile feedback device. Any local (coordinate system) departure from the true vertical, provided by a navigation system, is rendered on the subject´s neck using a wearable device equipped with an array of actuators. Intuitive tactile semaphores derived from a simple biomechanical model of the interaction between the neck and an elasto-plastic wraparound neck rest prompt the subject to correct his/her spatial attitude. In this approach, initially, during a constant pressure phase, as acceleration increases, the inertial force applied to the neck increases with the area of the contact patch. In a subsequent constant surface phase, the increase in acceleration translates into an increase in pressure exerted on the neck. Other applications of the device to simulation and video-gaming are also demonstrated.