Vibrotactile stimulators and virtual 3-D audio countermeasures, training and motion sickness symptoms with a simulated graveyard spin illusion.

The vestibular system by itself is incapable of effectively compensating for the graveyard spin illusion. We examined two countermeasures, i.e.

Multisensory cueing for enhancing orientation information during flight.

The U.S. Air Force still regards spatial disorientation (SD) and loss of situational awareness (SA) as major contributing factors in operational Class A aircraft mishaps ($1M in aircraft loss and/or pilot fatality).

Acceleration in other axes affects +Gz tolerance: dynamic centrifuge simulation of agile flight.

Background: Modern, thrust-vectored jet aircraft have the capability of developing multi-axis accelerations, especially during the performance of "supermaneuvers." These "agile" aircraft are capable of unconventional flight. The human consequences of this agile flight environment are unknown.

The effect of brief headward acceleration on human G tolerance.

Objective: To generate, on a multi-axial centrifuge, a negative to positive acceleration profile that reproduces the physiological reaction and subjective symptoms experienced by agile aircraft pilots. Previous research will be summarized and current status of research described.

Methods: Experiments have been accomplished with the Dynamic Environment Simulator (DES) using different profile generating techniques.

Echocardiographic evaluation of female centrifuge subjects for chronic changes in cardiac function.

Background: High sustained G exposure as experienced in flying high performance aircraft can affect cardiac function. Numerous studies, mostly on male pilots, have evaluated the chronic effects of exposure to high G. To date, none of these studies has revealed significant positive findings in cardiac function as a result of long-term high G exposure.