Individual Learning Curves in Manual Control of Six Degrees of Freedom

Abstract

A newly developed tool to facilitate learning processes in complex perceptual-motor tasks was tested for its efficiency characteristics. The tool is based on a demanding manual control task, in which a target object has to be manipulated with six degrees of freedom. During the self-sufficient learning process the task difficulty is increased from very easy to the complex level of a manual spacecraft docking on a space station. The type and the difficulty of the next task were defined by a regulation system based on individual performance. The tool was successfully applied to 22 participants in a laboratory setting. No performance differences were found between genders. Age was correlated with training duration but slower learners also succeeded eventually. The tool provides improvements in the learning process for operational tasks like controlling a robot arm or to perform a docking maneuver. Beside the foreseen practical application in space this is a time effective and economic way to educate participants in ground based research requiring such complex skills.