Requirements, Design and Prototype of a Virtual User Interface for the AFITVirtual Spaceplane

摘要

The United States Air Force is evaluating the feasibility of designing a militaryspaceplane capable of accomplishing military objectives from a low earth orbit and atmospheric flight regimes. This thesis looks at the exploration of new interface techniques associated with the design of a virtual spaceplane and is a subset of the overall virtual spaceplane effort which will assist researchers in determining the feasibility of a military spaceplane. Interface techniques are integrated into a virtual user interface that is designed to accommodate expected operations associated with atmospheric and low earth orbit military operations. We expect these operations to include satellite deployment and recovery reconnaissance, and space station construction and resupply. The focus of the virtual user interface design effort involves the application and integration of current interface design methodologies and virtual environment technologies to support the functionality of a virtual spaceplane.