Technical Validation of a Spatial Tracking Configuration for Augmented and Co-Localized Medical Assistance Under Gravity Variations in Parabolic Flights.

Introduction: Augmented reality is a promising technology for enhancing remote medical assistance. It assists users by directly projecting the relevant virtual assistance in the real world at the right moment and at the right location. This modality is called colocalization but has not been validated in parabolic flights. Our hypothesis was that this modality is technically feasible in weightlessness and is superior to a paper checklist in assisting a caregiver during a simulated medical emergency.

Methods: During parabolic flight campaigns, we conducted an abdominal pain simulation scenario and sought to compare procedural assistances. Participants performed a basic medical examination using either classic cognitive aids (such as a paper checklist) or an augmented-reality device projecting visual co-localized (situated or embedded) assistance.

Results: Gravity variations induced technical difficulties in the nominal functioning of augmented-reality headsets due to the native accelerometers in these devices. Clinical data were not interpretable due to small sample size secondary to the technical difficulties encountered. Finally, an efficient and stable spatial tracking configuration was found during the last flight, offering future research perspectives.

Conclusions: Our study validated the first achievement of a stable co-localized assistance under gravity variation. The augmented-reality headset required an external tracking system based on surrounding infrared cameras and an in-flight calibration to recreate the virtual environment (spatial mapping) independently of gravity conditions. Further studies are needed to clinically validate the potential benefits of co-localized augmented reality for space medicine.