PILOT BIOMEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTATION FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE DURING CENTRIFUGE SIMULATIONS OF SPACE FLIGHT

This report presents some of the results of recent centrifuge acceleration research and training projects in which the biomedical, psychophysiological, and psychological performances of pilots were monitored and measured. Monitoring and recording instrumentation techniques are described, and an attempt is made to identify and quantify some of the capabilities and limitations of pilot performance during exposure to accelerations which vary in magnitude, duration, direction, rate of onset, and profile complexity. Apparatus and methods are presented and discussed for monitoring visual distrubance, discrimination and response behavior, complex skill behavior, and an approach is made to the problem of monitoring higher mental functioning, The pilots and other volunteers in these training and research programs were the 7 Mercury astronauts, 6 Dyna-Soar consultant pilots, approximately 35 other test pilots, and approximately 40 other military and civilian volunteers.