The influence of ship motion on manual control skills

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Abstract
Effects of ship motion on a range of typical manual control skills were examined on the Warren Spring ship motion simulator driven in heave, pitch and roll by signals taken from the frigate HMS Avenger at 13 m/s (25 knots) into a force 4 wind. Motion produced a vertical acceleration of 0.024 g, mostly between 0.1-0.3 Hz, with comparatively little pitch or roll. A task involving unsupported arm movements was seriously affected by motion. A pursuit tracking task showed a reliable decrement although it was still performed reasonably well (pressure and free-moving tracking controls were affected equally by motion). A digit keying task requiring ballistic hand movements was unaffected. There was no evidence that these effects were caused by seasickness. Differing response to motion of different tasks, from virtual destruction to no effect, suggested that a major benefit could come from design of man/control interface on board ship around motion resistant tasks.

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