Integrated Metrics Driven Human-in-the-Loop Simulation for the Development of Human Machine Teams in Advanced Environmental System Applications

Long duration space flight missions will require higher levels of mission reliance on autonomous and artificial intelligent systems to enable successful outcomes. Missions to the moon and Mars will require advancement in intelligent systems support to manage and facilitate mission outcomes, and crew autonomy and survival. However, critical environmental and life support systems may leverage these technologies in many ways in order to facilitate higher levels of crew autonomy onboard. Technology with greater autonomy capabilities does not necessarily lead to better mission outcomes. Instead, the ability to have humans and intelligent machine systems (autonomous, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotic systems) working collaboratively, and even as part of a team will be a critical enabler for supporting complex mission operations within the space domain. These future Human Machine teaming technologies and systems will require significant investment in human centered development to ensure that any intelligent system incorporated into mission and life critical systems is effectively integrated. Human-in-the-loop (HITL), ground-based simulations for engineering development, verification and test can be leveraged to support the development and integration of advanced technical systems such as autonomy/AI. In this paper, the authors describe how a HITL simulation developed to provide integrated metrics and measurement collection can provide critical design feedback early in the development process for future intelligent environmental systems applications such as smart habitats, as well as autonomous support systems for In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and orbital operations and spacecraft. Building upon the human machine teaming taxonomy described in Endsley and Appleby, 20241 this paper describes how human readiness levels (HRLs) should be established for future human machine teams in the space flight environment. It describes how HITL, ground-based simulations for engineering development, and test can be used to support the development and integration of advanced technical systems such as autonomy/AI in space flight applications.