Vection: Using virtual reality to test astronauts' perception

Health science

Vection is a new Canadian science experiment that will use a virtual reality system to examine how microgravity affects astronauts' perception of their motion.

Background

The word "vection" is defined as a feeling that you are moving even though you are immobile, brought on by seeing something else moving. It can be dangerous if it leads astronauts to misinterpret the direction and speed of other objects. For instance, the effect could complicate tasks involving robotics such as captures of unpiloted spacecraft using Canadarm2.

The Vection experiment will assess how crewmembers judge distances and process their own movement while they are immersed in a virtual reality environment. The knowledge gained through this study will help design safer methods of moving around the International Space Station. It could also help future astronauts land small spaceships on lunar or planetary surfaces.

Studying vection, an interesting optical illusion, with David Saint-Jacques

Transcript

Objectives

Vection aims to:

learn more about how visual information creates the impression of self-motion in weightlessness
explore whether astronauts' perception of their surroundings is affected by weightlessness
create a model of how the space environment influences the way we process visual information

Impacts on Earth

Through Vection, researchers will learn more about how visual signals affect our perception when we are in motion. The study's findings may also enrich research in many areas, including:

understanding disorders affecting movement and posture, like Parkinson's disease
using virtual reality to assist people recovering from a stroke or damage to their balance organs
understanding the effects of aging on perception
improving the use of technologies like remotely operated robots used in surgery

How it works

Vection's seven participants will use virtual reality headsets to experience 3D simulations. Throughout the tests, astronauts will be immobilized in a head and neck brace.

In one simulation, astronauts will estimate the size of an object. Mistakes in estimation will reveal errors in perceived distance from the objects.
A second test will simulate motion down a corridor. Astronauts will indicate when they arrive at the position of a previously viewed target. Over- or under-estimates will indicate the strength of their sense of vection.
In the third test, simulated visual motion will be used to determine if the astronauts are confusing tilt and visual acceleration in weightlessness.

Astronauts will be tested before, during, and after their missions. Vection's scientists will compare the results to isolate the effects of weightlessness on their performance.

You may have experienced vection in the subway while observing a nearby train arrive or leave. Despite actually remaining immobile, you may have felt a convincing sensation that your train moved in the opposite direction. That illusory self-motion is known as vection.