An Evaluation of the Frequency and Severity of Motion Sickness Incidences in Personnel Within the Command and Control Vehicle (C2V)

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Cowings, Patricia S. Toscano, William B. Deroshia, Charles W.
Copyright Year	1998
Abstract	Summary The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency andseverity of motion sickness in personnel during a fieldexercise in the Command and Control Vehicle (C2V).This vehicle contains four workstations where militarypersonnel are expected to perform command decisions inthe field during combat conditions. Eight active dutymilitary men (U.S. Army) at the Yuma Proving Groundsin Arizona participated in this study. All subjects weregiven baseline performance tests while their physiologicalresponses were monitored on the first day. On the secondday of their participation, subjects rode in the C2V whiletheir physiological responses and performance measureswere recorded. Self-reports of motion sickness were alsorecorded. Results showed that only one subject experi-enced two incidences of emesis. However, seven of theeight subjects reported other motion sickness symptoms;most predominant was the report of drowsiness, whichoccurred a total of 19 times. Changes in physiologicalresponses were observed relative to motion sicknesssymptoms reported and the different environmentalconditions (i.e., level, hills, gravel) during the fieldexercise. Performance data showed an overall decrementduring the C2V exercise. These findings suggest thatmalaise and severe drowsiness can potentially impact theoperational efficiency of C2V crew. However, a numberof variables (e.g., individual's sleep quantity prior to themission, prior experience in the C2V, etc.) were notcontrolled for in this study and may have influenced theresults. Most notable was the fact that subjects withprevious experience in the C2V all occupied seat 4, whichwas anecdotally reported to be the least provocativeposition. Nonetheless, it was possible to determine whichfactors most likely contributed to the results observed.* University of California, Los Angeles. In residence at AmesResearch Center.This research was funded by an Interagency AgreementNo. BLI-88 between Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,CA 94035-1000, and the U.S. Army, Tank-Automotive andArmament Command, Warren, MI 28397-5000.It was concluded that conflicting sensory informationfrom the subject's visual displays and movements of thevehicle during the field exercise significantly contributedto motion sickness symptoms observed in both this studyand the earlier study at Camp Roberts. The objectivesof this study were successfully met. The use of threeconverging indicators, (1) physiological monitoring,(2) subject self-reports of symptoms, and (3) performancemetrics, was an effective means of evaluating the inci-dence of motion sickness and the impact on overall crewoperational capacity within the C2V. It was recommendedthat a second study be conducted to further evaluate theimpact of seat position or orientation and C2V experienceon motion sickness susceptibility. Further, it was recom-mended that an investigation be performed on behavioralmethods for improving crew alertness, motivation, andperformance and for reducing malaise.IntroductionThis technical report describes the results of a studyconducted within an Interagency Agreement betweenAmes Research Center, Space Life Sciences Division,Gravitational Research Branch, and the U.S. ArmyProgram Executive Office for Ground Combat andSupport Systems, Project Managers Office, BradleyFighting Vehicle System, (PM-BFVS), Tank-Automotiveand Armament Command (TACOM). The purpose of thisproject was to use NASA technology to assist the U.S.Army in the assessment of motion sickness incidences inthe Command and Control Vehicle (C2V).Results from a previous study by the Army at CampRoberts and at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds indicatethat after a brief excursion on a cross country course inthe C2V crewmembers reported varying degrees ofmotion sickness (e.g., nausea, blurred vision, etc.). Of the17 participants in that study only l experienced vomiting,but 12 were reported to have been taking anti-motionsickness medication (Dramamine). Two commonlyreported side effects of Dramamine are drowsiness andblurred vision, but the effects of this medication on crewperformance were not reported. Our own research showed
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