The European Space Agency Employs Cortona3D's 3D Interactive Animation to Speed Training
- New learning tools increase spacecraft crew safety
- Astronauts review and drill on notebook PC.
- Other space agencies and projects may benefit
Left: Expedition 16 Commander and flight engineer, Peggy Whitson and Yuri Malenchenko, training on the ATV-1 Hatch Opening sequence
Right: Same sequence as seen through Cortona3Ds’ 3D training software
CUSTOMER PROFILE
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications for exclusively peaceful purposes. ESA takes part in the International Space Station. Its astronauts have participated in space flight missions since the early 1980s.
THE CHALLENGES
In 2001, training contained materials in several languages. In-orbit review was impractical with pounds of documents.
THE SOLUTION
Cortona3Ds’ new teaching techniques employ simultaneous reading, seeing and manual skills to speed training and test real-world, practical knowledge. (Click here to view example - internet connection required).
- Engineers use approved materials as basis to create, modify and animate.
- Astronaut questionnaire showed that students learn faster, retain more.
- Tests show areas of need, then export to SCORM-compliant software.
- Astronauts can use notebook or tablet PCs to review lessons, rehearse in space, and verify steps in real time.
The European Space Agency (ESA) heads all major European space activities, including cooperation with other agencies to build and operate the International Space Station. Fail-safe astronaut training for the Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is pivotal for docking, bringing water and gas onboard, off-loading waste, and then undocking the craft.
To replace bulky, multi-lingual, old manuals, the latest 3D training technology from Cortona3D puts graphics, text, and interactive animations on one notebook PC screen. Astronauts more rapidly learn and memorize life-or death multi-step procedures.
Favorable feedback from ground and space personnel praise better learning speed, retention and can do just in time rehearsals in space. These factors increase accuracy of results and mission safety.
Description
The European Space Agency (ESA) comprises 17 member-states that jointly create dynamic programs of exploration and technology for satellite communication and navigation systems, Earth observation and meteorology, launchers, spaceflight and laboratories, exploration of the solar system and deep space. Training prospective and seasoned astronauts and crew is vital.
Near Cologne, Germany, ESA’s European Astronaut Center (EAC) trains, tests and updates astronauts to ensure that theory and training become hands-on know-how. EAC trains astronauts from Russia, the USA, European countries and Japan.
ESA’s International Space Station (ISS) was begun in 1998 and has been under continual construction. Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV) launched on 8 March 2008, docked with the ISS on 3 April and undocked in August.
This fleet of 20-ton space transport vehicles used to bring fresh food, water, oxygen, cargo, fuel and new experiments to the ISS, requires delicate maneuvers performed by the astronauts to dock (attach itself to the ISS), unload its cargo and reload trash and waste. Then the ATV becomes detached from the ISS and burns up as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.
The Challenges
Four years ago, training astronauts and ground crews was certain, safe, and slow. ESA required a more efficient solution for mission personnel to learn, practice, drill, and be examined on complex procedures. Yet no sacrifice in safety was acceptable.
Earlier training methods required pounds of annotated and cross-referenced manuals, often with parts in foreign languages. Some explanations were too terse or filled with unclear acronyms. And because no spaceflight will haul crates of manuals, months passed between study and in-space execution.
New training solutions had to cover the many control panels, tools, levers, valves and racks of the ATV. It had to simulate complex tasks in zero-gravity with unfailing accuracy. A small misstep could cause loss of life, ruin millions of dollars of equipment or waste years of work.
COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING
ESA surveyed modern methods and tools to update and automate training. Cortona3D, an international leader in interactive 3D visual communication for Equipment Maintenance & Training, was selected for several reasons.
Cortona3D products can import and animate trusted three-dimensional CAD, PLM, ERP and other drawings. In the final teaching product, text and highly interactive graphics display on the same screen. The software requires no programming knowledge to build courses, lessons and graded examinations. Cortona3Ds’ ICC Viewer is the tool students use.
Astronauts zoom in and out and rotate around the three-dimensional model while reading its documentation or parts list on-screen. They can follow prompts or proceed independently, and see training procedures in continuous or step-by-step modes.
“Compared to other CBT tools, this is much more visual, more interactive, and more conducive to retaining memories and new knowledge,” says Richard Moss, ATV Crew Instructor & Team Coordinator. “When the astronaut must turn a given valve in the ATV, he sees that valve turn in his on-screen representation.” (Click here to view example - internet connection required)
LESSONS, TESTS, INDUSTRY STANDARDS
Training-industry research validates the learning benefits of using three-dimensional animation to enhance CBT. Test results can export to a Learning Management System (LMS) for review by teacher and student. Training simulations can be used within LMS or exported to ADL, Giunti Labs’ Learn eXact, and other SCORM-compliant packages.
“ESA and EAC had the documents, materials and knowledge, but it took Cortona3D software tools to transfer our knowledge efficiently. The software's interface made it simple to build new procedures that we could go back and change and evolve at any time. Making the final application took highly collaborative teamwork. We went over each procedure to ensure factual accuracy, visual clarity and ease of use.”
“This tool is very easy to use,” says Moss, “and that’s very important. Crews refresh a two-hour procedure in five minutes. It’s that intuitive.” Astronauts can practice wherever they have a PC loaded with the appropriate materials even on orbit.
Benefits to Date
By objective and subjective yardsticks, “It does everything we need,” says Moss, “and it has the power to do much more.”
In questionnaires given to astronauts, respondents confirmed their improved speed of learning and better retention. “These professionals have seen every type of paper and CBT education you can imagine,” Moss says. “They are very tough and knowledgeable critics.”
“They’re impressed by Cortona3D learning tools. You see their eyes light up and the questions start coming.” “When you impress an astronaut,” points out Moss, “you have done something really special. They recognize the help this software will give them. It will save time and mistakes in an environment where errors cost lives.”
BETTER TRAINING WORLDWIDE
“There aren’t that many astronauts on the planet and they form a tight community,” says Moss. “Word has already spread to other space agencies, and they expect to replicate the successes that EAC instructors and Cortona3D engineers have produced.”
“They’re impressed with it and they’ll get a copy to take back home to show teammates, trainees and instructors,” he says.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Moss says he plans to show others at ESA the benefits of Cortona3D learning tools. They could animate additional procedures for a wider range of equipment, more-diverse payloads, modules, and experiments.
In theory, all critical space operations could someday be learned, drilled and rehearsed in the safety of highly interactive animated simulation.