Simulation of rendezvous of a man in deep space

Mendez, Daniel Pablo (1971) Simulation of rendezvous of a man in deep space. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

We study here the rendezvous of an isolated man in deep space with a predetermined target (say, his parent vehicle) with the purpose of determining the main factors which influence the process. We assume that he utilizes (effectively) monocular vision as the only mean of observation, and that he is equipped with some thruster which, when necessary he can direct either along the line of sight or at right angles to it. Two simulations, by analogue and digital computer, have been devised to study this manoeuvre. The analog computer is used to represent (on an oscilloscope screen) the appearance of the target and star background during the course of the manoeuvre . Its main purpose is to obtain an insight into such a manoeuvre and to observe the strategies and performance of a real human being in such a process. The digital simulation consists of a program which formalises human behaviour in this rendezvous manoeuvre. we use it to provide a fast and ready method of obtaining a large number of simulations under different well defined circumstances. Having then a large number of simulations with different initial conditions, and with simulated operators of a wide range of ability, we analyse the relations between the different variables affecting the process (i.e. specific variables of the manoeuvre such as initial distance of the operator from the target, acceleration provided by the thruster, etc., and specific variables of the human operator such as his errors of observation, reaction time, etc.). Likewise we study their influence on the process and check the results with the ones obtained in the analog simulation. As far as this formalized treatement resembles human behaviour, we find that there is an optimum (in the sense of minimum fuel consumption) value of acceleration around 0.5 times the rendezvous distance per sec-2. Besides, it seems that the human being is more handicapped by his implementation errors (in pointing the thruster) than by his visual observation errors.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: T RF Nonweiler
• Keywords: Aerospace engineering
• Date of Award: 1971
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1971-73082
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73082