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NEREUS: An Assistive Decision Support System for Real-Time, Adaptive Route Guidance in Extravehicular Navigation Activities on the Lunar Surface

Authors Jasmine Q. Wu , Andrew J. Hwang , Matthew J. Bietz

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OASIcs.SpaceCHI.2025.25.pdf
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Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI)
  • Human-centered computing → User interface design
  • Applied computing → Aerospace
Keywords
  • Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
  • Adaptive Navigation
  • Decision Support
  • Cognitive Load Analysis
  • Decision Support System
  • Extravehicular Activity

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Abstract

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) is one of the most complex operational endeavors during human lunar exploration. A key aspect of successful operations involves adapting procedures to address unexpected hazards on the lunar surface. Current route mapping systems rely heavily on static navigation planning around craters, high elevations, and extreme weather conditions to accomplish pre-defined mission objectives. However, the high-resolution data necessary for reliable route mapping is often unavailable. To address this challenge, we have designed NEREUS, a Decision Support System (DSS) that helps EVA operators on the ground respond to anomalies faster by simulating multiple alternative routes in parallel and visualizing trade-offs in consumable resources, speed, and safety as well as impact on overall mission timeline. The system offloads computationally intensive tasks like calculating the impact of evolving hazard data, allowing operators to focus on higher-level decision-making.

Cite As Get BibTex

Jasmine Q. Wu, Andrew J. Hwang, and Matthew J. Bietz. NEREUS: An Assistive Decision Support System for Real-Time, Adaptive Route Guidance in Extravehicular Navigation Activities on the Lunar Surface. In Advancing Human-Computer Interaction for Space Exploration (SpaceCHI 2025). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 130, pp. 25:1-25:14, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025) https://doi.org/10.4230/OASIcs.SpaceCHI.2025.25

Author Details

Jasmine Q. Wu
  • Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Andrew J. Hwang
  • Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Matthew J. Bietz
  • Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

Funding

This research was supported by the California Space Grant Consortium (CASGC) and the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine.

Acknowledgements

We thank the NASA SUITS Program and the STEM Office of Education Engagement at the Johnson Space Center for supporting the research process. We are grateful to our NASA advisors, William Young, and David M. A. Hollaway, Adam Peterson for their guidance and sharing industry insights throughout the design process. We are deeply grateful to the NASA engineers, UX Researchers, and Product Designers at the Johnson Space Center and NASA Ames who contributed their time and insights during our interviews. These experts supported our early understanding of EVA operations and Aerospace industry standards to calibrate trust with autonomous systems.

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