A protective suit management system and bioastronautics engine

Abstract

A method (2100, 2200, 2300, 2400) comprising generating a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit (130A-N) configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit (130A-N) from an environment external of the protective suit (130A-N), said protective 5 suit output being generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

Description

[0001] A PROTECTIVE SUIT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND BIOASTRONAUTICS ENGINE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a protective suit management system. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system and method of generating a protective suit output based on input data.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Protective systems are used to enable humans to operate in increasingly hostile environments, such as those on land and in space for contested chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat environments. When an individual needs to operate in these CBRN environments, a protective suit is employed to protect the occupant.

[0006] The type of environment and the tasks that need to be performed in these environments can determine the type of suit. For physically demanding tasks, it is often the case that the ability of the occupant to perform these tasks is limited by the suit. For example, a suit that allows great occupant mobility tends to be large and cumbersome or may only provide limited protection. This is not ideal.

[0007] The requirements of space suits often present specialised problems. The environment in outer space requires a life support system, plus protection from extreme temperatures and radiation. These factors tend to result in a suit that is large and bulky, requiring excess energy expenditure by the occupant in use. This energy expenditure limits the use of these suits to shorter operations.

[0008] Further, to date, space suits have been custom-made to accommodate occupant requirements and are designed based on feedback from the occupant on the overall fit and feel. The supply chains for existing suits are also fragmented, significantly increasing the cost of suit production. This process limits the mass production of space suits and produces space suits that are not always correctly fitted. As the number of people travelling to space and requiring space suits is set to dramatically increase over the next decade, developing space suits requires a new approach. ft is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

[0009] SUMMARY

[0010] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising generating a protective suit output, based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user biomedical input data. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising generating a protective suit output, based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

[0011] The user characteristic input data may be associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of a suit user. The protective suit output may comprise protective suit output data.

[0012] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least one of: virtual protective suit input data, the virtual protective suit input data being associated with virtual protective suit model data; protective suit input data, the protective suit input data being associated with a protective suit; suit exposure input data, the suit exposure input data being associated with at least one environmental condition; and user characteristic input data, the user characteristic input data being associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of a suit user.

[0013] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least one of: virtual protective suit input data, the virtual protective suit input data being associated with virtual protective suit model data; protective suit input data, the protective suit input data being associated with a protective suit; and suit exposure input data, the suit exposure input data being associated with at least one environmental condition.

[0014] The virtual protective suit model data may be associated with a virtual protective suit.

[0015] The virtual protective suit model data may comprise a three-dimensional model of the virtual protective suit.

[0016] The virtual protective suit model data may comprise values of a plurality of virtual protective suit parameters, the value of each virtual protective suit parameter being indicative of a respective characteristic of the virtual protective suit.

[0017] One or more of the virtual protective suit parameters may be associated with at least one of: a dimension of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a material of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a material property of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a mass of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; an operating range of motion of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; and a virtual sensor of the virtual protective suit.

[0018] The environmental condition may comprise at least one of: a simulated acceleration; a simulated velocity; a simulated force; a simulated temperature; a simulated pressure.

[0019] The protective suit data may comprise a plurality of protective suit parameters, a value of each protective suit parameter being indicative of a respective characteristic of the protective suit.

[0020] One or more of the protective suit parameters may be associate with at least one of: a dimension of a component of the protective suit; a material of a component of the protective suit; a material property of a component of the protective suit; a mass of a component of the protective suit; a movement profile of a component of the protective suit; an operating range of motion of a component of the protective suit; and a sensor of the protective suit.

[0021] The environmental condition may comprise at least one of: an acceleration; a velocity; a force; a temperature; a pressure.

[0022] The user characteristic input data may comprise a plurality of biomedical parameters of the suit user, a value of each biomedical parameter being indicative of a respective biomedical characteristic of the suit user.

[0023] The biomedical parameters of the suit user may comprise at least one of: a dimension parameter, a value of the dimension parameter being indicative of a dimension of a part of the suit user; a range of motion parameter, a value of the range of motion parameter being indicative of a range of motion of a part of the suit user; a musculoskeletal parameter, a value of the musculoskeletal parameter being indicative of a musculoskeletal characteristic of the suit user; a vital sign parameter, a value of the vital sign parameter being indicative of a vital sign of the suit user; a nervous system parameter, a value of the nervous system parameter being indicative of a nervous system characteristic of the suit user; a cardiovascular parameter, a value of the cardiovascular parameter being indicative of a cardiovascular characteristic of the suit user; a respiratory parameter, a value of the respiratory parameter being indicative of a respiratory characteristic of the suit user; a blood parameter, a value of the blood parameter being indicative of a blood characteristic of the suit user; an immunity parameter, a value of the immunity parameter being indicative of an immunity of the suit user; an inflammation parameter, a value of the inflammation parameter being indicative of an inflammation of a part of the suit user; a gastrointestinal parameter, a value of the gastrointestinal parameter being indicative of a gastrointestinal state of the suit user; a liver parameter, a value of the liver value parameter being indicative of a liver characteristic of the suit user; a renal parameter, a value of the renal parameter being indicative of a renal characteristic of the suit user; an endocrine parameter, a value of the endocrine parameter being indicative of a hormone level of the suit user; and a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) parameter, a value of the deoxyribonucleic acid parameter being indicative of a characteristic of the suit user’s DNA.

[0024] The method may further comprise determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data. At least some of the user characteristic input data that is measured may be measured using a sensor. At least some of the user characteristic input data may be determined using a motion capture system.

[0025] The method may further comprise performing a virtual protective suit simulation.

[0026] The virtual protective suit input data, suit exposure input data and user characteristic input data may be inputs of the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0027] The protective suit output may be generated in response to an outcome of the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0028] The protective suit output may comprise a performance report indicating a performance of the virtual protective suit in the simulation.

[0029] The method may further comprise determining one or more parts of the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and the user characteristic input data.

[0030] Determining one or more parts of the protective suit input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0031] Determining one or more parts of the suit exposure input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0032] Determining one or more parts of the suit exposure input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more environmental sensors.

[0033] Determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0034] The protective suit output may comprise a performance report indicating a performance of the protective suit.

[0035] The protective suit output may comprise a protective suit control signal.

[0036] The protective suit output may comprise a change to at least some of the virtual protective suit input data, the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and / or the user characteristic input data.

[0037] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least two data types, being at least two of virtual protective suit input data or protective suit input data; suit exposure input data and user characteristic input data. The method may comprise correlating the at least two data types to one another. The method may comprise correlating data associated with a first of the at least two data types and data associated with a second of the at least two data types, to one another.

[0038] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least two data types, being at least two of virtual protective suit input data, protective suit input data and suit exposure input data. The method may comprise correlating the at least two data types to one another. The method may comprise correlating data associated with a first of the at least two data types and data associated with a second of the at least two data types, to one another.

[0039] The input data may comprise virtual protective suit input data. The input data may comprise suit exposure input data. The input data may comprise characteristic input data. The characteristic input data may comprise user characteristic input data. The characteristic input data may comprise suit characteristic input data. The user characteristic input data may comprise the suit characteristic input data. At least some of the user characteristic input data may be measured using the sensor.

[0040] The method may comprise detecting a characteristic event from the user characteristic input data measured by the sensor. The characteristic event may be a user characteristic event. The characteristic event may be a suit characteristic event. The method may comprise determining a portion of a body of the suit user, being the user of the virtual protective suit, with which the user characteristic event is associated. The method may comprise correlating the portion of the body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0041] The method may further comprise retrieving, from the virtual protective suit input data, at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0042] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of correlation between the portion of the body of the suit user and the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0043] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the characteristic event. The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the user characteristic event. The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the suit characteristic event. The protective suit output may comprise the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter. The protective suit output may comprise a suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise a suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the user characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise a suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the suit characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0044] The protective suit output may be generated at the end of the simulation. The protective suit output may be generated during the simulation when the user characteristic event is detected. The protective suit output may be communicated to at least one of: the suit user; a facilitator.

[0045] The sensor may comprise one or more sensors. The sensor may comprise a motion capture system. The motion capture system may comprise a camera. The sensor may comprise at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user. The method may comprise determining the portion of the body of the suit user with which the characteristic event is associated. The method may comprise determining the portion of the body of the suit user with which the user characteristic event is associated. The method may comprise determining the portion of the body of the suit user with which the suit characteristic event is associated.

[0046] The sensor may comprise at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user The sensor may be connected to the suit user at a known position on the body of the suit user. The known position may be correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0047] The sensor may comprise a motion capture system comprising a camera, the method comprising identifying, in an image of the suit user, at least some anatomical points or features of the suit user, such that the user characteristic event is correlatable to an anatomical point or feature of the suit user, the anatomical point or feature of the suit user being correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0048] The method may further comprise determining a scale for the image based on a feature in the image of the suit user having a known dimension. The method may further comprise identifying one or more dimensions associated with the user characteristic event, based on the scale.

[0049] The user characteristic event may be motion of a portion of the body of the suit user, and the method comprises identifying the dimensions associated with the motion.

[0050] The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the body of the suit user. The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the motion of the portion of the body of the suit user, to improve conformity with the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0051] The method may comprise correlating one or more parameters of the portion of the body of the suit user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time, and one or more virtual protective suit parameters of the portion of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass.

[0052] The method may comprise assigning coordinates to the at least some identified anatomical points or features of the body of the suit user, such that the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event are correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit. The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the characteristic event may be correlatable to corresponding coordinates of the virtual protective suit. The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the use characteristic event may be correlatable to corresponding coordinates of the virtual protective suit. The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the suit characteristic event may be correlatable to corresponding coordinates of the virtual protective suit.

[0053] The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the characteristic event may be correlatable to an identified sensor of a plurality of sensors on the virtual protective suit. The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event may be correlatable to an identified sensor of a plurality of sensors on the virtual protective suit. The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the suit characteristic event may be correlatable to an identified sensor of a plurality of sensors on the virtual protective suit. The identified sensor may be the sensor most closely corresponding to the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the characteristic event. The identified sensor may be the sensor most closely corresponding to the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event. The identified sensor may be the sensor most closely corresponding to the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the suit characteristic event.

[0054] The at least two data types may comprise at least two of virtual protective suit input data; simulated suit exposure input data; simulated user characteristic input data. Each of the data types may be inputted as data for the simulation.

[0055] The method may comprise detecting a simulated characteristic event from the simulated user characteristic input data. The method may comprise detecting a simulated user characteristic event from the simulated user characteristic input data. The method may comprise detecting a simulated suit characteristic event from the simulated user characteristic input data. The method may comprise determining a portion of a simulated body of the suit user with which the simulated user characteristic event is associated. The method may comprise correlating the portion of the simulated body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0056] The method may comprise retrieving, from the virtual protective suit input data, at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0057] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of correlation between the portion of the simulated body of the user and the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the simulated user characteristic event. The protective suit output may comprise the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter. The protective suit output may comprise a suggestion for modifying the at least one simulated biomedical characteristic associated with the simulated user characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0058] The protective suit output may be generated at the end of the simulation. The protective suit output may be generated during the simulation when the simulated characteristic event is detected. The protective suit output may be generated during the simulation when the simulated user characteristic event is detected. The protective suit output may be generated during the simulation when the simulated suit characteristic event is detected.

[0059] The simulated user characteristic event may be motion of a portion of the simulated body of the user, the motion having associated with it at least one motion dimension.

[0060] The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the simulated body of the user. The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the motion of the portion of the simulated body of the user, to improve conformity with the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0061] The method may comprise correlating one or more parameters of the portion of the simulated body of the user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time, and one or more virtual protective suit parameters of the portion of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass.

[0062] At least some of the simulated user characteristic input data is inputted as data for the simulation by being derived from a user characteristic database, the user characteristic database comprising data relating to a plurality of past suit users having a plurality of biomedical characteristics, using protective suits having a plurality of protective suit parameters, and using the protective suits in a plurality of environmental conditions.

[0063] To obtain the user characteristic input data, data from the user characteristic database may be selected that most closely corresponds to biomedical characteristics of the suit user, the virtual protective suit input data for the virtual protective suit used in the simulation, and / or the simulated exposure data for the simulation. The user characteristic database may be used to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response to the virtual protective suit and the simulated exposure data during the simulation.

[0064] At least some of the simulated user characteristic input data may be inputted as data for the simulation by being derived from a database of past biomedical responses of the suit user.

[0065] The database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may comprise data obtained from the suit user when the suit user was performing at least one task or activity.

[0066] The database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may be used to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response to the virtual protective suit and the simulated exposure data during the simulation.

[0067] Data from the database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may be adjusted to account for parameters of the virtual protective suit and parameters of the simulated exposure data, to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response during the simulation.

[0068] The at least two data types comprise at least protective suit input data; and user characteristic input data. At least some of the user characteristic input data that is measured is measured using a sensor. At least some of the protective suit input data that is measured is measured using one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0069] The sensor for the user characteristic input data may comprise at least one of: a motion capture system comprising a camera; and at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user. The sensor for the user characteristic input data may comprise a motion capture system comprising a camera.

[0070] The method may comprise detecting a characteristic event. The characteristic event may be a user characteristic event. The characteristic event may be a suit characteristic event. The method may comprise determining a portion of a body of the user with which the characteristic event is associated, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera. The method may comprise determining a portion of a body of the user with which the user characteristic event is associated, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera. The method may comprise determining a portion of a body of the user with which the suit characteristic event is associated, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera. The portion of the body of the user is correlated to a portion of the protective suit.

[0071] The correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit may be by detecting a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event. The correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit may be by detecting, using the one or more sensors of the protective suit, a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event.

[0072] The sensor for the user characteristic input data comprises at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user, the at least one suit user sensor being configured to detect a user characteristic event and determine a portion of a body of the user with which the user characteristic event is associated, wherein the portion of the body of the user is correlated to a portion of the protective suit.

[0073] The correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit may be by detecting, using the one or more sensors of the protective suit, a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event. The correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit may be by detecting a sensor of the one or more sensors of the protective suit that is most proximal to the at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user that has detected the user characteristic event, and determining that the user characteristic event has occurred at the portion of the protective suit where said most proximal sensor is located.

[0074] The sensor for the user characteristic input data may be provided at least in part by the one or more sensors of the protective suit, wherein the one or more sensors of the protective suit are configured to detect a protective suit event at a portion of the protective suit, the portion of the protective suit is correlated to a portion of the body of the user, and a user characteristic event is approximated based on the protective suit event.

[0075] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of correlation between the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the user characteristic event. The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the protective suit event. The protective suit output may comprise at least one protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one protective suit parameter. The protective suit output may comprise a suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the user characteristic event to conform to the at least one protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the protective suit.

[0076] The protective suit output may be generated at the end of the analysis. The protective suit output may be generated during the analysis when the user characteristic event or the protective suit event is detected. The protective suit output may be communicated to at least one of: the suit user; a facilitator.

[0077] The at least two data types may comprise suit exposure input data. The suit exposure data may comprise environmental condition data experienced by the protective suit. The suit exposure data may comprise simulated environmental condition data. The suit exposure input data may comprise environmental condition data experienced by the protective suit. The suit exposure input data may comprise simulated environmental condition data.

[0078] One or more environmental simulation devices may be located in the vicinity of the suit user and the protective suit. One or more environmental simulation devices may be attached to the suit user. One or more environmental simulation devices may be attached to the protective suit. The environmental simulation devices may be configured to simulate or emulate the action of at least one environmental condition on the suit user or the protective suit.

[0079] The report may comprise an indication of at least one of: performance of the protective suit or the virtual protective suit; performance of the suit user.

[0080] The performance of the protective suit or the virtual protective suit may be determined based on any relevant performance thresholds based on the user characteristic input data and / or the suit exposure data. The performance of the suit user may be determined based on any relevant performance thresholds based on the protective suit input data or the virtual protective suit input data and / or the suit exposure data.

[0081] Where at least one of the protective suit input data, suit exposure input data, or user characteristic input data is a virtual or simulated input, at least one parameter thereof may be adjustable during the analysis or simulation.

[0082] The suit exposure input data may comprise at least one activity or task performable by the suit user, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions.

[0083] The at least one activity or task, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions, may be one of: preprogrammed; able to be inputted dynamically by the suit user or facilitator; a combination of preprogrammed and able to be inputted dynamically.

[0084] The at least one activity or task, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions, may have associated with it at least one motion performable by the suit user. During or after the analysis or simulation, feedback can be provided. In other words, the method may comprise providing feedback during or after the analysis or simulation. The feedback may be based on at least one parameter associated with the at least one motion performable by the suit user during the at least one activity or task; and / or at least one protective suit parameter. The feedback may be based on at least one parameter associated with the motion of the suit user when performing the task during the analysis or simulation.

[0085] The feedback is providable via at least one of: a display viewable by the suit user; an audio communication audible by the suit user.

[0086] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a system. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may comprise memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit output, based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

[0087] The system may be configured to perform one, some, or all aspects of the method set out above.

[0088] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method may comprise generating a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit, the protective suit being configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on user characteristic input data.

[0089] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method may comprise generating a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit, the protective suit being configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

[0090] The protective suit output may comprise a performance report indicating a performance of the protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise a protective suit control signal. The protective suit output may comprise at least one of: a protective suit control signal that is configured to control one or more component of the protective suit; and a performance report indicating a performance of the protective suit The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least one of virtual protective suit input data, the virtual protective suit input data being associated with virtual protective suit model data associated with a virtual protective suit, being a virtual representation of the protective suit; protective suit input data, the protective suit input data being associated with the protective suit; and suit exposure input data, the suit exposure input data being associated with at least one environmental condition. The user characteristic input data may be associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of a suit user.

[0091] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least one of: virtual protective suit input data, the virtual protective suit input data being associated with virtual protective suit model data associated with a virtual protective suit, being a virtual representation of the protective suit; protective suit input data, the protective suit input data being associated with the protective suit; and suit exposure input data, the suit exposure input data being associated with at least one environmental condition; and the user characteristic input data may be associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of a suit user.

[0092] The protective suit output may be configured to change at least some of the virtual protective suit input data, the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and / or the user characteristic input data. That is, the protective suit output may change at least some of the virtual protective suit input data, the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and / or the user characteristic input data.

[0093] The virtual protective suit model data may comprise a three-dimensional model of the virtual protective suit.

[0094] The method may comprise determining one or more parts of the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and the user characteristic input data.

[0095] Determining one or more parts of the protective suit input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0096] Determining one or more parts of the suit exposure input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0097] Determining one or more parts of the suit exposure input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more environmental sensors. Determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data may comprise recording a measurement from a user characteristic sensor.

[0098] Determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data may comprise recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0099] Determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data may comprise recording a measurement from a motion capture system.

[0100] The virtual protective suit input data may comprise values of a plurality of virtual protective suit parameters. A value of each virtual protective suit parameter may be indicative of a respective characteristic of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit input data may comprise a plurality of protective suit parameters. A value of each protective suit parameter may be indicative of a respective characteristic of the protective suit. The user characteristic input data may comprise a plurality of biomedical parameters of the suit user. A value of each biomedical parameter may be indicative of a respective biomedical characteristic of the suit user.

[0101] One or more of the virtual protective suit parameters may be associated with at least one of: a dimension of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a material of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a material property of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a mass of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a movement profile of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; an operating range of motion of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; and a virtual sensor of the virtual protective suit; wherein one or more of the protective suit parameters may be associated with at least one of: a dimension of a component of the protective suit; a material of a component of the protective suit; a material property of a component of the protective suit; a mass of a component of the protective suit; a movement profile of a component of the protective suit; an operating range of motion of a component of the protective suit; and a sensor of the protective suit.

[0102] The biomedical parameters of the suit user may comprise at least one of: a dimension parameter, a value of the dimension parameter being indicative of a dimension of a part of the suit user; a range of motion parameter, a value of the range of motion parameter being indicative of a range of motion of a part of the suit user; a musculoskeletal parameter, a value of the musculoskeletal parameter being indicative of a musculoskeletal characteristic of the suit user; a vital sign parameter, a value of the vital sign parameter being indicative of a vital sign of the suit user; a nervous system parameter, a value of the nervous system parameter being indicative of a nervous system characteristic of the suit user; a cardiovascular parameter, a value of the cardiovascular parameter being indicative of a cardiovascular characteristic of the suit user; a respiratory parameter, a value of the respiratory parameter being indicative of a respiratory characteristic of the suit user; a blood parameter, a value of the blood parameter being indicative of a blood characteristic of the suit user; an immunity parameter, a value of the immunity parameter being indicative of an immunity of the suit user; an inflammation parameter, a value of the inflammation parameter being indicative of an inflammation of a part of the suit user; a gastrointestinal parameter, a value of the gastrointestinal parameter being indicative of a gastrointestinal state of the suit user; a liver parameter, a value of the liver value parameter being indicative of a liver characteristic of the suit user; a renal parameter, a value of the renal parameter being indicative of a renal characteristic of the suit user; an endocrine parameter, a value of the endocrine parameter being indicative of a hormone level of the suit user; and a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) parameter, a value of the deoxyribonucleic acid parameter being indicative of a characteristic of the suit user’s DNA.

[0103] The environmental condition may comprise at least one of: a simulated acceleration; a simulated velocity; a simulated force; a simulated temperature; a simulated pressure; an acceleration; a velocity; a force; a temperature; a pressure.

[0104] The method may comprise performing a virtual protective suit simulation to simulate the virtual protective suit. The virtual protective suit input data, suit exposure input data and user characteristic input data may be inputs of the virtual protective suit simulation. The protective suit output may be generated in response to an outcome of the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0105] The performance report may further indicate a performance of the virtual protective suit in the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0106] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise at least two data types, being at least two of virtual protective suit input data, protective suit input data and suit exposure input data; wherein the method may comprise correlating the at least two data types, or data associated with a first of the at least two data types and data associated with a second of the at least two data types, to one another.

[0107] The input data may comprise virtual protective suit input data, suit exposure input data, and user characteristic input data. At least some of the user characteristic input data may be measured using the user characteristic sensor. The method may comprise: detecting a user characteristic event from the user characteristic input data measured by the sensor; determining a portion of a body of the suit user, being the user of the virtual protective suit, with which the user characteristic event is associated; and correlating the portion of the body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0108] The method may comprise retrieving, from the virtual protective suit input data, at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0109] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of correlation between the portion of the body of the suit user and the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0110] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the user characteristic event.

[0111] The protective suit output may comprise the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0112] The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter.

[0113] The protective suit output may comprise a suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the user characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated at the end of the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0114] The protective suit output may be generated during the virtual protective suit simulation when the user characteristic event is detected, and may be communicated to at least one of: the suit user; a facilitator. The user characteristic sensor may comprise one or more sensors, wherein the user characteristic sensor may comprise at least one of: a motion capture system comprising a camera; at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user, and the method may comprise determining the portion of the body of the suit user with which the user characteristic event is associated.

[0115] The user characteristic sensor may comprise at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user, wherein the user characteristic sensor may be connected to the suit user at a known position on the body of the suit user, wherein said known position may be correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0116] The user characteristic sensor may comprise a motion capture system comprising a camera, wherein the method may comprise identifying, in an image of the suit user, at least some anatomical points or features of the suit user, such that the user characteristic event is correlatable to an anatomical point or feature of the suit user, wherein the anatomical point or feature of the suit user may be correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0117] The method may comprise: determining a scale for the image based on a feature in the image of the suit user having a known dimension; and identifying one or more dimensions associated with the user characteristic event, based on the scale.

[0118] The user characteristic event may be motion of a portion of the body of the suit user, and the method may comprise identifying the dimensions associated with the motion.

[0119] The protective suit output may comprise at least one of: at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the body of the suit user; at least one suggestion for modification of the motion of the portion of the body of the suit user, to improve conformity with the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0120] The method may comprise correlating: one or more parameters of the portion of the body of the suit user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time, and one or more virtual protective suit parameters of the portion of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass.

[0121] The method may comprise assigning coordinates to the at least some identified anatomical points or features of the body of the suit user, such that the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event are correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0122] The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event may be correlatable to corresponding coordinates of the virtual protective suit.

[0123] The coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event may be correlatable to an identified sensor of a plurality of sensors on the virtual protective suit. The identified sensor may be the sensor most closely corresponding to the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event.

[0124] The at least two data types may comprise at least two of: virtual protective suit input data; simulated suit exposure input data; simulated user characteristic input data, wherein each of the data types may be inputted as data for the virtual protective suit simulation, wherein the method may comprise: detecting a simulated user characteristic event from the simulated user characteristic input data; determining a portion of a simulated body of the suit user with which the simulated user characteristic event is associated; and correlating the portion of the simulated body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0125] The method may comprise retrieving, from the virtual protective suit input data, at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0126] The protective suit output may comprise an indication of correlation between the portion of the simulated body of the user and the portion of the virtual protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise an indication of the correlation to the simulated user characteristic event.

[0127] The protective suit output may comprise the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit. may comprise protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter.

[0128] The protective suit output may comprise at least one suggestion for modifying the at least one simulated biomedical characteristic associated with the simulated user characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0129] The protective suit output may be generated at the end of the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0130] The protective suit output may be generated during the virtual protective suit simulation when the simulated user characteristic event is detected.

[0131] The simulated user characteristic event may be motion of a portion of the simulated body of the user, wherein the motion may have associated with it at least one motion dimension.

[0132] The protective suit output may comprise at least one of: at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the simulated body of the user; at least one suggestion for modification of the motion of the portion of the simulated body of the user, to improve conformity with the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0133] The method may comprise correlating: one or more parameters of the portion of the simulated body of the user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time, and one or more virtual protective suit parameters of the portion of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass.

[0134] At least some of the simulated user characteristic input data may be inputted as data for the virtual protective suit simulation by being derived from a user characteristic database. The user characteristic database may comprise data relating to a plurality of past suit users having a plurality of biomedical characteristics, using protective suits having a plurality of protective suit parameters, and using the protective suits in a plurality of environmental conditions.

[0135] To obtain the user characteristic input data, data from the user characteristic database may be selected that most closely corresponds to biomedical characteristics of the suit user, the virtual protective suit input data for the virtual protective suit used in the virtual protective suit simulation, and / or the simulated exposure data for the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0136] The user characteristic database may be used to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response to the virtual protective suit and the simulated exposure data during the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0137] At least some of the simulated user characteristic input data may be inputted as data for the virtual protective suit simulation by being derived from a database of past biomedical responses of the suit user.

[0138] The database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may comprise data obtained from the suit user when the suit user was performing at least one task or activity.

[0139] The database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may be used to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response to the virtual protective suit and the simulated exposure data during the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0140] Data from the database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may be adjusted to account for parameters of the virtual protective suit and parameters of the simulated exposure data, to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response during the virtual protective suit simulation.

[0141] At least some of the user characteristic input data that is measured may be measured using the user characteristic sensor, and wherein at least some of the protective suit input data that is measured may be measured using the one or more sensors of the protective suit.

[0142] The user characteristic sensor may comprise at least one of: a motion capture system comprising a camera; at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user.

[0143] The user characteristic sensor may comprise the motion capture system comprising the camera, and the method may further comprise detecting a user characteristic event; and determining a portion of a body of the user with which the user characteristic event is associated, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera, wherein the portion of the body of the user may be correlated to a portion of the protective suit.

[0144] The correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit may be by one of: detecting a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event; detecting, using the one or more sensors of the protective suit, a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event.

[0145] The user characteristic sensor may comprise at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user. The at least one suit user sensor may be configured to detect a user characteristic event and determine and / or indicate a portion of a body of the user with which the user characteristic event is associated, wherein the portion of the body of the user may be correlated to a portion of the protective suit.

[0146] The correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit may be by one of: detecting, using the one or more sensors of the protective suit, a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event; detecting a sensor of the one or more sensors of the protective suit that is most proximal to the at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user that has detected the user characteristic event, and determining that the user characteristic event has occurred at the portion of the protective suit where said most proximal sensor is located.

[0147] The user characteristic sensor may be provided at least in part by the one or more sensors of the protective suit. The one or more sensors of the protective suit may be configured to detect a protective suit event at a portion of the protective suit, wherein the portion of the protective suit may be correlated to a portion of the body of the user, and a user characteristic event may be approximated based on the protective suit event.

[0148] The protective suit output may comprise one or more of: an indication of correlation between the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit; an indication of the correlation to the user characteristic event; an indication of the correlation to the protective suit event; at least one protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the protective suit; at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one protective suit parameter; at least one suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the user characteristic event to conform to the at least one protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the protective suit.

[0149] The protective suit output may be generated: at the end of an analysis of the protective suit; or during the analysis when the user characteristic event or the protective suit event is detected, and may be communicated to at least one of: the suit user; a facilitator.

[0150] The at least two data types may further comprise suit exposure input data.

[0151] The suit exposure input data may comprise environmental condition data experienced by the protective suit.

[0152] The suit exposure input data may comprise simulated environmental condition data.

[0153] One or more environmental simulation devices may be located in the vicinity of the suit user and the protective suit, and / or may be attached to at least one of: the suit user; the protective suit, wherein the environmental simulation devices may be configured to simulate or emulate the action of at least one environmental condition on the suit user or the protective suit.

[0154] The performance report may comprise an indication of at least one of: performance of the protective suit or the virtual protective suit; performance of the suit user, wherein said performance of the protective suit or the virtual protective suit may be determined based on any relevant performance thresholds based on the user characteristic input data and / or the suit exposure data; wherein said performance of the suit user may be determined based on any relevant performance thresholds based on the protective suit input data or the virtual protective suit input data and / or the suit exposure data.

[0155] Where at least one of the protective suit input data, suit exposure input data, or user characteristic input data is a virtual or simulated input, at least one parameter thereof may be adjustable via an interim input.

[0156] The suit exposure input data may comprise at least one activity or task performable by the suit user, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions.

[0157] The at least one activity or task, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions, may be one of: preprogrammed; able to be inputted dynamically by the suit user or facilitator; a combination of preprogrammed and able to be inputted dynamically.

[0158] The at least one activity or task, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions, may have associated with it at least one motion performable by the suit user.

[0159] The method may comprise providing feedback. The feedback may be based on: at least one parameter associated with the at least one motion performable by the suit user during the at least one activity or task; and / or at least one protective suit parameter; and at least one parameter associated with the motion of the suit user when performing the task.

[0160] The feedback may be providable via at least one of: a display viewable by the suit user; an audio communication audible by the suit user.

[0161] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a system. The system may comprise at least one processor, and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit, the protective suit being configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

[0162] The protective suit output may comprise a performance report indicating a performance of the protective suit. The protective suit output may comprise a protecting suit control signal that is configured to control one or more component of the protective suit.

[0163] The system may be configured to perform one, some, or all aspects of the method set out above.

[0164] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a system. The system may comprise at least one processor, and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data. The protective suit configuration input data may comprise suit exposure input data. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as an exposure input, said suit exposure input data. Said suit exposure input data may comprise a suit exposure profile comprising a plurality of environmental conditions. Said plurality of environmental conditions may comprise at least one of: an acceleration; a velocity; a force; a temperature; a pressure. The program instructions may be further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a type indicator input, an indication of whether the suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment.

[0165] The plurality of environmental conditions may further comprise at least one activity, task and / or motion to be performed by the suit user while wearing the protective suit.

[0166] The exposure input may comprise a selection of a first preprogrammed suit exposure profile of a plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles. Each of the plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles may comprise a preprogrammed plurality of environmental conditions.

[0167] The plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles may each relate to a respective preprogrammed environment.

[0168] The respective preprogrammed environments may comprise different operating environments, which may be one or more of: a first planet; a second planet, different from the first planet; water; land; air; space.

[0169] The exposure input may comprise an input of a suit exposure profile comprising a plurality of customized environmental conditions.

[0170] The exposure input may comprise the first preprogrammed suit exposure profile wherein at least one of the preprogrammed plurality of environmental conditions has been customized.

[0171] The exposure input may comprise the first preprogrammed suit exposure profile and further may comprise an input comprising at least one further customized environmental condition. Said exposure input and said type indicator input may be received via one or more graphical user interface elements associated with the system. Said one or more graphical user interface elements may be display able on a user interface of a user device.

[0172] Said one or more graphical user interface elements may comprise a plurality of graphical user interface elements. A first graphical user interface element and a second graphical user interface element of the plurality of graphical user interface elements may be in a hierarchical relationship. The first graphical user interface element may be configured to receive a first input being a first one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions. The second graphical user interface may be displayed based on the first input and may be configured to receive a second input being a second one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions.

[0173] Content of the second graphical user interface may change depending on the first input.

[0174] The first exposure input may relate to the operating environment and the second exposure input may relate to at least one activity, task and / or motion to be performed by the suit user while wearing the protective suit in the operating environment.

[0175] While the protective suit is being exposed to the real environment or the simulated environment in use, at least one of said plurality of environmental conditions, or a value of a parameter of same, may be dynamically alterable via an interim input.

[0176] The exposure input data may comprise an indication that at least one of said plurality of environmental conditions, or a value of a parameter of same, is to alter while the protective suit is being exposed to the real environment or the simulated environment in use.

[0177] The system may be configured to perform one, some, or all aspects of the method set out above.

[0178] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a system. The system may comprise at least one processor, and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a first protective suit output comprising first protective suit output data relating to a first protective suit configured to protect a first suit user wearing the first protective suit from a first environment external of the first protective suit. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a second protective suit output comprising second protective suit output data relating to a second protective suit configured to protect a second suit user wearing the second protective suit from a second environment external of the second protective suit. The first protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on first protective suit configuration input data and first user characteristic input data. The first protective suit configuration input data may comprise first suit exposure input data. The second protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on second protective suit configuration input data and second user characteristic input data. The second protective suit configuration input data may comprise second suit exposure input data. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a first exposure input, the first suit exposure input data. The first suit exposure input data may comprise a first suit exposure profile comprising a first plurality of environmental conditions. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a second exposure input, the second suit exposure input data. The second suit exposure input data may comprise a second suit exposure profile comprising a second plurality of environmental conditions. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a first type indicator input, an indication of whether the first suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the first protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a second type indicator input, an indication of whether the second suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the second protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment.

[0179] Said first suit exposure input data may be different from said second suit exposure input data.

[0180] At least one of said first plurality of environmental conditions may be different from at least one of said second plurality of environmental conditions

[0181] A value of a parameter associated with at least one of said first plurality of environmental conditions may be different from a value of a parameter associated with at least one of said second plurality of environmental conditions

[0182] Said first and second plurality of environmental conditions may comprise a location, wherein a first location comprised in the first suit exposure input data may be different from a second location comprised in the second suit exposure input data.

[0183] Said first type indicator input may be different from said second type indicator input.

[0184] Said first suit exposure input data and said second suit exposure input data may be the same and said first type indicator input may be different from said second type indicator input. Said first protective suit configuration input data may further comprise first protective suit input data comprising a first plurality of protective suit parameters associated with said first protective suit and said second protective suit configuration input data may further comprise second protective suit input data comprising a second plurality of protective suit parameters associated with said second protective suit.

[0185] Said first protective suit input data may be different from said second protective suit input data.

[0186] The first protective suit output may comprise diagnostic data indicating a required change to a specific one of said first plurality of protective suit parameters. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit control signal implementing said required change in respect of a corresponding specific one of said second plurality of protective suit parameters.

[0187] The system may be configured to receive said first suit exposure input data and said second suit exposure input data concurrently.

[0188] The system may be configured to generate said first protective suit output and said second protective suit output concurrently.

[0189] The system may be configured to perform one, some, or all aspects of the method set out above.

[0190] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a system. The system may comprise at least one processor, and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data. The user characteristic input data may be associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of the suit user. The protective suit configuration input data may comprise: protective suit input data associated with a protective suit; and suit exposure input data associated with at least one environmental condition. The program instructions may be further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a first type indicator input, an indication of whether the protective suit input data is real protective suit input data corresponding to a real protective suit, or simulated protective suit input data corresponding to a simulated protective suit. The program instructions may be further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a second type indicator input, an indication of whether the suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment. The program instructions may be further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a third type indicator input, an indication of whether the user characteristic input data is real user characteristic input data detected by a user characteristic sensor associated with the suit user in use, or simulated user characteristic input data corresponding to at least one simulated biomedical characteristic of the user.

[0191] The system may be configured to perform one, some, or all aspects of the method set out above.

[0192] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a system. The system may comprise at least one processor, and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit. The protective suit output may be generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data. The user characteristic input data may be associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of the suit user. The protective suit configuration input data may comprise: protective suit input data associated with a protective suit and suit exposure input data associated with at least one environmental condition. At least some of the protective suit input data may be obtained by recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit. At least some of the user characteristic input data may be obtained by recording a measurement from at least one of: a motion capture system; or a suit user sensor connected to the suit user. The user characteristic input data may comprise a motion parameter, being a range of motion or a dimension of motion of a motion event of a portion of the suit user. The program instructions may be configured to cause the at least one processor to: identify the portion of the suit user to which the motion event relates; correlate said portion of the suit user to a corresponding portion of the protective suit; from the protective suit input data, identify a range of motion of said corresponding portion of the protective suit; and identify whether the motion parameter of the motion event of the suit user is within the range of motion of said corresponding portion of the protective suit.

[0193] The system may be configured to perform one, some, or all aspects of the method set out above.

[0194] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0195] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0196] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0197] Figure 2 shows a first graphical user interface (GUI) page of a GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 3 shows a second GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0198] Figure 4 shows a third GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0199] Figure 5 shows a fourth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0200] Figure 6 shows a fifth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0201] Figure 7 shows a sixth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0202] Figure 8 shows a seventh GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0203] Figure 9 shows an eighth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0204] Figure 10 shows a nineth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0205] Figure 11 shows a tenth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0206] Figure 12 shows an eleventh GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0207] Figure 13 shows a twelfth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0208] Figure 14 shows a thirteenth GUI page of the GUI hierarchy, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0209] Figure 15 shows another view of the thirteenth GUI page of Figure 14, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0210] Figures 16 to 20 show a number of GUI pages that are associated with a data manager of a bioastronautics engine, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0211] Figure 21 is a process flow diagram of a method, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0212] Figure 22 is a further process flow diagram of a method, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0213] Figure 23 is a further process flow diagram of a method, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0214] Figure 24 is a further process flow diagram of a method, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0215] The present disclosure relates to a system for generating a protective suit output. The system generates the protective suit output based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data. In broad terms, a computing system runs a bioastronautics engine, with which a user may interact to simulate the performance of a virtual protective suit (which may also be referred to herein as a simulated protective suit) during a suit design process, or assess the performance of a manufactured protective suit, to optimise future designs. The system described herein enables multidomain protective suit intelligence through a single architecture. This is independent of the particular domain of the protective suit (e.g. whether it be a protective suit for use with respect to land, sea, air or space). The bioastronautics engine is capable of integrating offline data and input data received in real-time. The bioastronautics engine includes a plurality of core verticals. Specifically, in some embodiments, the bioastronautics engine includes three core verticals. The bioastronautics engine includes a suit diagnostics vertical. The bioastronautics engine includes a biomedical vertical. The bioastronautics engine includes an environment vertical. In this way, the bioastronautics engine can provide wholistic analyses of protective suit performance that can be used for design optimisation or suit or suit user monitoring purposes.

[0216] In various examples, all three of the data types corresponding to the verticals (user biomedical or physiological or characteristic data, protective suit data, and environmental data) may be virtual or simulated; or all three of the data types may be based on real inputs; or some data types may be virtual or simulated while other data types are based on real inputs; or any one or more of the data types may be partly virtual or simulated and partly based on real inputs.

[0217] Figure 1 illustrates a system 100, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 100 is configured to enable a user to design, test, optimize and / or monitor the performance of a protective suit. The protective suit may be a space suit. That is, the protective suit may be configured to enable a human to operate in space.

[0218] System 100

[0219] The system 100 comprises a protective suit management system 102. The protective suit management system 102 comprises at least one processor 104. The processor(s) 104 of the protective suit management system 102 may be referred to as protective suit management system processors. The protective suit management system 102 comprises memory 106. Memory 106 may be referred to as protective suit management system memory. Memory 106 may comprise or be in the form of one or more non transitory computer readable medium. Memory 106 stores program instructions 108. The program instructions 108 may be referred to as protective suit management system program instructions. In particular, memory 106 stores a bioastronautics engine 109. The bioastronautics engine 109 may comprise at least some of the program instructions 108. Alternatively, the program instructions 108 may comprise the bioastronautics engine 109. The protective suit management system 102 comprises a network interface 110. The network interface 110 may be referred to as a protective suit management system network interface.

[0220] The at least one processor 104 is configured to execute the program instructions 108. In particular, the at least one processor 104 is configured to execute the program instructions 108 to cause the system 100 to function as described herein. That is, when executed, the program instructions 108 cause the at least one processor 104 to function as described herein. In some embodiments, the program instructions 108 are in the form of instruction program code.

[0221] The at least one processor 104 comprises one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), application specific instruction set processors (ASIPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), tensor processing units (TPUs) or other processors capable of reading and executing program code. It will be appreciated that the at least one processor 104 may be a distributed processor. That is, one or more portion of the at least one processor 104 may be physically separated from one or more other portion of the at least one processor 104. In some embodiments, the protective suit management system 102 may be said to comprise a plurality of processors 104. Where functionality is described herein as being performed by the at least one processor 104, it will be understood that the relevant functionality may be performed by one or more, or a plurality of processors 104.

[0222] Memory 106 may comprise one or more volatile or non-volatile memory types. For example, memory 106 may comprise at least one of random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or flash memory. Memory 106 is configured to store the program instructions 108. The program instructions 108 are accessible by the at least one processor 104. The program instructions 108 may be referred to as computer-executable instructions. The program instructions 108 comprise executable program code modules. Memory 106 stores the executable program code modules, which are configured to be executable by the at least one processor 104. The executable program code modules, when executed by the at least one processor 104, cause the protective suit management system 102 to perform certain functionality, as described herein.

[0223] Memory 106 may comprise one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. A computer- readable storage medium can be any medium that can tangibly contain or store computer-executable instructions for use by or in connection with the protective suit management system 102. In some examples, the storage medium is a transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some examples, the storage medium is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer- readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, magnetic, optical, and / or semiconductor storages. Examples of such storage include magnetic disks, optical discs based on CD, DVD, or Blu-ray technologies, as well as persistent solid-state memory such as flash, solid-state drives, and the like.

[0224] The network interface 110 facilitates communication between the protective suit management system 102 and one or more other computing devices. The network interface 110 may comprise a combination of network interface hardware and network interface software suitable for establishing, maintaining and facilitating communication over a relevant communications network. Examples of a suitable communications network include a cloud server network, wired or wireless internet connection, Bluetooth™ or other near field radio communication, and / or a physical network such as a wired Universal Serial Bus (USB) network or an Ethernet network.

[0225] The system 100 comprises a user device 112A. In some embodiments, the system 100 comprises a plurality of user devices 112A-N. For example, the system 100 may comprise N user devices 112A-N. The user device 112A comprises at least one processor 114A. The processor(s) 114A of the user device 112A may be referred to as user device processors. The user device 112A comprises memory 116A. Memory 116 A may be referred to as user device memory. Memory 116A may comprise or be in the form of one or more non-transitory computer readable medium. Memory 116A stores program instructions 118A. The program instructions 118A may be referred to as user device program instructions. The user device 112A comprises a network interface 120 A. The network interface 120A may be referred to as a user device network interface. The user device 112A comprises a user interface 122A. The user interface 122 A may be referred to as a user device user interface.

[0226] The at least one user device processor 114A is configured to execute the user device program instructions 118A. In particular, the at least one user device processor 114 A is configmed to execute the user device program instructions 118A to cause the user device 112 A to function as described herein. That is, when executed, the user device program instructions 118A cause the at least one user device processor 114A to function as described herein. In some embodiments, the user device program instructions 118A are in the form of instruction program code.

[0227] The at least one user device processor 114A comprises one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), application specific instruction set processors (ASIPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), tensor processing units (TPUs) or other processors capable of reading and executing program code. It will be appreciated that the at least one user device processor 114A may be a distributed processor. That is, one or more portion of the at least one user device processor 114A may be physically separated from one or more other portion of the at least one processor 114A. In some embodiments, the user device 112A may be said to comprise a plurality of processors 114A. Where functionality is described herein as being performed by the at least user device one processor 114A, it will be understood that the relevant functionality may be performed by one or more, or a plurality of processors 114A.

[0228] User device memory 116A may comprise one or more volatile or non-volatile memory types. For example, user device memory 116A may comprise at least one of random-access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or flash memory. User device memory 116 A is configured to store the user device program instructions 118A. The user device program instructions 118A are accessible by the at least one user device processor 114A. The user device program instructions 118A may be referred to as computer-executable instructions. The user device program instructions 118A comprise executable program code modules. User device memory 116A stores the executable program code modules, which are configured to be executable by the at least one user device processor 114A. The executable program code modules, when executed by the at least one user device processor 114, cause the user device 112A to perform certain functionality, as described herein.

[0229] User device memory 116A may comprise one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium can be any medium that can tangibly contain or store computerexecutable instructions for use by or in connection with the user device 112A. In some examples, the storage medium is a transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some examples, the storage medium is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, magnetic, optical, and / or semiconductor storages. Examples of such storage include magnetic disks, optical discs based on CD, DVD, or Blu-ray technologies, as well as persistent solid-state memory such as flash, solid-state drives, and the like.

[0230] The user device network interface 120A facilitates communication between the user device 112A and one or more other computing devices. The user device network interface 120 A may comprise a combination of network interface hardware and network interface software suitable for establishing, maintaining and facilitating communication over a relevant communications network. Examples of a suitable communications network include a cloud server network, wired or wireless internet connection, Bluetooth™ or other near field radio communication, and / or a physical network such as a wired Universal Serial Bus (USB) network or an Ethernet network.

[0231] The user interface 122 A comprises a display (not shown). The display is configured to display information to the user of the user device 112A. The display may comprise one or more LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, cathode-ray or other displays. The display may be or include a touch-screen display. The user interface 122 A may be configured to display a graphical user interface on the display. The user interface 122A comprises an input device. The input device may comprise one or more buttons, switches, keyboards, digital mice, joysticks, microphones, touchscreens or other input devices. The input device is configured to communicate one or more inputs provided by the user of the user device 112 A to the at least one user device processor 114A. The user interface 112A comprises at least one audio output system (not shown). The audio output system is configured to enable an audio signal to be output by the user interface 122 A.

[0232] It will be appreciated that one or more of the other user devices 112B-N may comprise one or more features that are similar to, or the same as, one or more features of the user device 112A. That is, at least one of the other user devices 112B-N may comprise at least one user device processor 114B-N, user device memory 116B-N, user device program instructions 118B-N, a user device network interface 120B- N and / or a user interface 122B-N.

[0233] The protective suit management system 102 is in communication with the user device 112A-N via a communications network 124. The system 100 may comprise the communications network 124. The communications network 124 may comprise, or be in the form of a wireless local area network (WLAN) such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 82.15.1) or Zigbee (IEE 802.15.4), a wireless wide area network (WWAN) such as cellular 4G LTE and 5G or another cellular network connection, low power wide area networks (LPWAN) such as SigFox and Lora, Bluetooth™ and / or other near field radio communication. The communications network 124 may involve a connection with the Internet. The communications network 124 may comprise, or be in the form of a wired network. In some embodiments, the communications network 124 is separated into sub-networks. For example, the communications network 124 may be separated into a first sub-network and a second sub-network. A sub-network may be associated with a respective purpose and / or entity.

[0234] In some embodiments, the system 100 comprises a protective suit 130A. A meaning of the term “protective suit” can be as explained below. The illustrated system 100 comprises a plurality of protective suits 130A-M. That is, the system 100 comprises M protective suits 130A-M.

[0235] Protective systems are used to enable humans to operate in environments which may be described as “hostile environments” (also referred to as “extreme environments”) in that they differ in one or more aspects or conditions from an environment which is well suited to or easily tolerated by humans.

[0236] Examples of hostile environments may include space (such as outer space and / or another planet), land- based environments, water-based environments, in-flight environments in the earth’s atmosphere, high- altitude environments, and / or environments of extreme temperature (heat or cold). Examples of hostile environments may also include those on land and in space for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat environments, and / or environments affected by other hazardous materials. Other examples of hostile environments or aspects of same may include environments involving fire, humidity, dirt, acids, and / or alkali.

[0237] When an individual (also referred to herein as a “suit user”) needs to operate or perform a task in such hostile environments, a protective suit(s) 130A-M is employed to protect the suit user from the hostile environment. The general purpose of the protective suit(s) 130A-M is to provide a barrier between the suit user and the outside environment. An environment suitable for the user is maintained within the protective suit 130A-M. Thus, the term “protective suit” can be understood herein to mean a garment (or portion of a garment, or a plurality of garments) worn by a suit user to protect, alone or in combination with one or more other such garments, the suit user from a hostile environment by providing a barrier between the suit user and the outside environment.

[0238] The protective suit(s) 130A-M may be adapted to be suitable to the particular type of hostile environment in which the suit user will be present. Thus, the protective suit(s) 130A-M may for example be a space suit, flight suit, high-altitude pressure suit, and / or a suit which protects against chemical exposure, radiation exposure, thermal exposure, biological exposure, and / or hazardous materials.

[0239] The protective suit(s) 130A-M may be hermetically sealed. The protective suit(s) 130A-M may comprise a life support system (described below) adapted to provide suitable conditions inside the protective suit(s) 130A-M for the suit user to perform their duties. The suitable conditions may comprise an artificially- generated environment inside the protective suit(s) 130A-M that is relatively well suited to, or easily tolerated by, humans (or the particular suit user). For instance, the artificially -generated environment may be similar to an environment experienced on Earth. Thus, the protective suit(s) 130A-M may be adapted to maintain a different environment inside the protective suit(s) 130A-M than that outside the protective suit(s) 130A-M.

[0240] The protective suit(s) 130A-M may be constructed from materials adapted to protect the suit user from the hostile environment or aspects of same. For example, such materials may have properties such as being flame resistant, flame retardant, ballisticproof, self-healing, resistant to (or permeable by) water vapor, permeable to air, resistant to radiation, resistant to extreme heat and / or cold, resistant to fastmoving micrometroids in space, and / or resistant to space radiation.

[0241] The protective suit(s) 130A-M may also be adapted to protect against physical damage, such as by protecting against mechanical injuries, falling objects, bullets, electrical risks, and such like.

[0242] At least one of the protective suits 130A-M may be as described in International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT / AU2023 / 051018 (published as W02024082001A1), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0243] In particular, International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT / AU2023 / 051018 (published as W02024082001A1) discloses a protective space suit system comprising a base layer and an outer layer comprising an exoskeleton structure.

[0244] The base layer may comprise a biomarker sensor network for monitoring one or more biomarkers of the occupant (i.e. the suit user). The biomarkers may be musculoskeletal biomarkers, and the biomarker sensors may be placed proximal to or on locations that are associated with synovial joints, heart, abdomen, and / or forearm of the occupant. For instance, some of the biomarker sensors may be configured and located so as to monitor, in use, one or more of the occupant’s shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, heart and forearms. There may be one biomarker sensor per anatomical region of the occupant, or there may be numerous sensors per region, such as to monitor different muscles within that region. The biomarker sensors of the base layer may also comprise one or more pressure sensors to monitor pressure applied to the skin of the occupant, such as from contact with the outer layer. The biomarker sensors may also be capable of determining how much energy the occupant is using, and in what anatomical regions. The biomarker sensors may also comprise sensors to detect O2 / CO2 levels in the environment within the suit, and / or temperature within the suit, and / or temperature of the occupant, and / or humidity of the environment within the suit. The base layer may comprise thermal regulation means comprising a network of fluid channels. Based on data from the temperature sensor(s), a life support system may pass a thermal regulation fluid through the fluid channels at varying rates to adjust temperature. Based on data from the O2 / CO2 sensor(s), the life support system may regulate content of air within the suit; and / or may regulate humidity levels based on data from the humidity sensor(s). More generally, the life support system may be configured to use some or all of the data from some or all of the sensors to respond in a pre-emptive or reactive manner to maintain the occupant within a predefined operational state.

[0245] The outer layer may comprise a biomechanics sensor network configured to monitor and record data related to movement of the outer layer, such as to monitor occupant energy usage and wear of the outer layer. The outer layer may also include sensors that monitor radiation and temperature.

[0246] In use, movement of the limbs of the occupant may be detected by, or inferred from, movement of the outer layer, that is to say, movement detected by the sensors of the biomechanics sensor network. At the same time, the biomarker sensors detect biomarker information associated with that movement, such as contraction of the relevant muscles of the occupant. These two data sets can be correlated to analyse the movement, such as the efficiency of the movement, and can be used for training purposes.

[0247] The protective suit system may also comprise a helmet and / or boots. The helmet may be fitted with one or more sensors configured to monitor and collect data as to cognitive function. The helmet may also comprise a display for displaying data to the occupant. One or both boots may be fitted with one or more sensors configured to monitor and collect data as to temperature within the boot and / or outside the boot, and / or pressure applied by the user and / or by the protective suit system on the boot.

[0248] The various sensors of the protective space suit system may be wirelessly connected to an internet of things network, which may store and / or rely on data in a data storage system.

[0249] It will be understood that, where the system 100 comprises a plurality of protective suits 130A-M (including virtual protective suits), the system 100 may be configured to operate as described herein with respect to one, some, or all of said protective suits 130A-M. That is to say, the functionality of the system 100 described herein may apply to one, some, or all of said protective suits 130A-M. The system 100 may operate in respect of each of said one, some, or all of said protective suits 130A-M substantially concurrently or at the same time. Said one, some, or all of said protective suits 130A-M may be unrelated to one another or may be related to one another. The system 100 may accordingly operate in respect of each of said one, some, or all of said protective suits 130A-M separately from one another, or in an interrelated manner. It will further be understood that the method embodiments 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400 described below, while described in respect of one protective suit, may be implemented in respect of one, some, or all of the plurality of protective suits 130A-M (including virtual protective suits).

[0250] With continued reference to Figure 1, the protective suit 130A is configured to communicate with the protective suit management system 102. The protective suit 130 A is configured to communicate with the user device 112A. Where the system 100 comprises a plurality of protective suits 130A-M, one or more of the protective suits 130A-M is configured to communicate with the protective suit management system 102. Further, one or more of the protective suits 130A-M communicates with a respective user device 112A-N. The protective suit 130A communicates with one or more other computing devices (e.g. the protective suit management system 102 and / or the user devices 112A-N) over the communications network 124.

[0251] The protective suit 130A comprises a communications module that enables the protective suit 130A to communicate with other computing devices via the communications network 124. The protective suit 130A also comprises memory (not shown). The memory may be considered onboard memory. That is, the memory may be considered protective suit memory. The protective suit 130A comprises a number of sensors. The protective suit 130A stores data generated by the sensors in the protective suit memory. The protective suit 130A also transmits this data via the communications network 124. The protective suit 130A may store the data locally in the case where it is unable to transmit the data over the communications network. The protective suit data comprises suit telemetry data. The system 100 comprises a suit management sensor system 140. The suit management sensor system 140 generates sensor data that is associated with one or more of the protective suits 130A-M. For example, the suit management sensor system 140 comprises sensors that are external to the protective suits 130A-M. For example, the suit management sensor system 140 may comprise one or more camera systems that are configured to record movement of one or more of the protective suits 130A-M over time. The suit management sensor system 140 communicates with one or more other computing devices (e.g. the protective suit management system 102 and / or the user devices 112A-N) over the communications network 124.

[0252] Bioastronautics Engine 109

[0253] The bioastronautics engine 109 enables monitoring, testing, analysis of and / or optimisation of a protective suit, or operation thereof. In particular, the user of the system 100 can use the bioastronautics engine 109 to monitor, test, analyse and / or optimise a protective suit, or operation thereof. The user of the system 100 interacts with pages of a graphical user interface (GUI) hierarchy in order to cause or instruct the system 100 to perform certain functionality described herein. In particular, the GUI hierarchy enables the user to interact with the bioastronautics engine 109. The protective suit management system 102 hosts the bioastronautics engine. The pages of the graphical user interface hierarchy may be used by the user to provide inputs to the bioastronautics engine. The bioastronautics engine may perform one or more operations in response to receiving certain inputs from the user, via the pages of the graphical user interface hierarchy.

[0254] In the illustrated embodiment, the pages of the GUI hierarchy are stored in the memory 106 of the protective suit management system 102. Each page of the GUI hierarchy may be stored as GUI page data in memory 106. One or more elements of a particular page of the GUI hierarchy may be stored as GUI page data in memory 106. The processor 104 of the protective suit management system 102 may retrieve the GUI page data associated with a particular page of the GUI hierarchy and transmit the GUI page data to the user device 112A-N in response to a request for access being received from the user device 112A- N. The processor 114A-N of the user device 112A-N may render the particular page of the GUI hierarchy based at least in part on the received GUI page data. The protective suit management system 102 may therefore be referred to as a network server. The network server may, for example, be accessible via an Internet browser, using a Uniform Resource Locator address associated with the network server. The network server may be referred to as a web server. The network server stores a plurality of the GUI pages. The GUI pages are stored in a hierarchy, with certain GUI pages being accessible in response to the system 100 receiving inputs on other GUI pages. The bioastronautics engine 109 may be accessed by connecting to the protective suit management system 102, via a user device. Figures 2-20 show a number of GUI pages, in accordance with the present disclosure. Each GUI page described herein may be associated with a particular level of the GUI hierarchy. The GUI pages described herein are displayed on the display of the user interface 122A-N of the user device 112A-N. One or more of the GUI pages described herein comprises a GUI element. The user may interact with the GUI elements of a particular GUI page to provide information for the bioastronautics engine 109 to use. An interaction with a GUI element may be considered provision of an input. In other words, an interaction with a GUI element may be considered provision of input data to the bioastronautics engine 109. The input data will depend on the nature of the GUI element. In other words, the user may provide an input to the bioastronautics engine 109 by interacting with a GUI element of a particular GUI page.

[0255] Figure 2 illustrates a first GUI page 200 of the GUI hierarchy. The GUI page 200 comprises a plurality of GUI elements 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218. At least one of the GUI elements 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 is in the form of a virtual button that the user may interact with in order to provide an input to the bioastronautics engine 109. For example, the user may select a particular virtual button to provide an input to the bioastronautics engine 109.

[0256] Each of the GUI elements 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 enables the user to provide an input to the bioastronautics engine 109. The input may be in the form of a selection. Specifically, the input may be in the form of a selection that indicates the user’s intended use of the bioastronautics engine 109.

[0257] Each of the GUI elements 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 enables the user to provide input data to the bioastronautics engine 109. A first GUI element 202 is associated with a virtual protective suit input. In particular, the user may provide an input using the first GUI element 202 (e.g. select the relevant section of the GUI page 200) in the case where they would like to conduct an analysis involving a virtual protective suit. A virtual protective suit is to be understood to mean a virtual representation of a protective suit. This may be, for example, a protective suit as simulated using a computer. A second GUI element 204 is associated with protective suit input data. The user may provide an input using the second GUI element 204 in the case where they would like to conduct an analysis involving one or more of the protective suits 130A-M. That is, the user may provide an input corresponding to the second GUI element 204 in the case where they would like to conduct an analysis involving a real protective suit.

[0258] As noted above, the different input data types (user biomedical or physiological or characteristic data, protective suit data, and environmental data or suit exposure data) may variously be real or simulated. That is to say, some may be real and others simulated (and one or more may be partly real and partly simulated). The GUI page 200, or another GUI page(s), may comprise GUI elements enabling the user to input which data types are to be real and which are to be simulated, for the purposes of the simulation or analysis. Furthermore, one or more of the other GUI pages described herein may have appropriate modifications or additions as required depending on whether the different input data types in a certain case are real, simulated, or partly real and partly simulated.

[0259] A third GUI element 206, a fourth GUI element 208 and a fifth GUI element 210 are associated with suit exposure inputs. In particular, each of the third, fourth and fifth GUI elements 206, 208, 210 enables the user to provide an input indicative of a desired suit exposure profile. For example, selecting the third GUI element 206 indicates that the user would like to conduct an analysis under pre-flight conditions. This may be a condition in which the virtual or real protective suit is stationary, experiencing gravity corresponding to that of a launchpad (whether that be on Earth or elsewhere). Selecting the fourth GUI element 208 indicates that the user would like to conduct an analysis under in-flight conditions. This may be a high acceleration condition, for example. Selecting the firth GUI element 210 indicates that the user would like to conduct an analysis under post-flight conditions. This may, for example, emulate conditions after an aircraft landing.

[0260] A sixth GUI element 212, a seventh GUI element 214, an eighth GUI element 216 and a nineth GUI element 218 are also associated a particular suit exposure input. The sixth GUI element 212, the seventh GUI element 214, the eighth GUI element 216 and the nineth GUI element 218 form a group of GUI elements. The group of GUI elements is associated with the GUI element out of the third to fifth GUI elements 206-210 that is selected. That is, the particular GUI elements of the group of GUI elements may change depending on whether the user selects the third GUI element 206, the fourth GUI element 208 or the fifth GUI element 210. Each of the sixth GUI element 212, the seventh GUI element 214, the eighth GUI element 216 and the nineth GUI element 218 enables the user to provide an input indicative of a desired suit exposure profile. For example, selecting the sixth GUI element 212 indicates that the user would like to conduct an analysis under conditions reflecting centrifuge training. Selecting the seventh GUI element 214 indicates that the user would like to conduct an analysis under conditions reflecting neutral buoyancy (e.g. in space or water). Selecting the eighth GUI element 216 indicates that the user would like to conduct an analysis under conditions corresponding to those of an International Space Station (ISS) module. Selecting the nineth GUI element 218 indicates that the user would like to conduct a mission specific analysis. For example, this may be an environmental condition corresponding to that of a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission, zero gravity exposure etc. The value of one or more parameters of the respective analysis may be impacted by the particular GUI element(s) that are selected, in use.

[0261] Selecting a GUI element may comprise providing an input (such as a mouse click, or a touch screen selection) in an area of the GUI page corresponding with a particular GUI element. These are notionally identified with dashed lines in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that the specific suit exposure GUI elements of the first GUI page 200 may be different in some alternative implementations of the GUI. Figure 3 shows a second GUI page 300. The second GUI page 300 may be considered an initialisation GUI page. That is, the user may interact with the second GUI page 300 in the process of initialising an analysis to be performed by the bioastronautics engine 109.

[0262] The second GUI page 300 comprises six GUI elements 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312. Each GUI element 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312 is a virtual button that enables the user to provide input data to the bioastronautics engine 109. A first GUI element 302 enables the user to select a protective suit from a suit library. A second GUI element 304 enables the user to create a design for a suit. A third GUI element 306 enables the user to create a virtual twin of themselves and / or a protective suit. A fourth GUI element 308 enables the user to simulate performance of a protective suit or virtual protective suit under certain environmental conditions. A fifth GUI element 310 enables the user to view or manage one or more datasets associated with the bioastronautics engine 109. A sixth GUI element 312 enables the user to view one or more dashboards. The dashboards may be associated with one or more other GUI pages. It will be appreciated that a particular GUI element of a GUI page may be said to enable particular functionality by providing access to a different level of a GUI hierarchy. The respective different level of the GUI hierarchy may comprise another GUI page that enables the user to perform the relevant functionality using the bioastronautics engine 109. For example, selection of the first GUI element 302 may cause the bioastronautics engine 109 to provide, to the user device 112A-N, a different level of the GUI hierarchy, from which a particular protective suit may be selected from a suit library.

[0263] Figure 4 shows a third GUI page 400, in accordance with the present disclosure. The third GUI page 400 is accessible via one or both of the first and second GUI elements 302, 304 of the second GUI page 200. The user may select a prebuilt protective suit or a custom protective suit using the third GUI page 400. For example, the user may select one of three pre-existing suit designs via one of three GUI elements 402, 404, 406 of the third GUI page 400. The user may select a fourth GUI element 408 to open another level of the GUI hierarchy, from which a custom protective suit may be selected. A fifth GUI element 410 enables the user to view the pre-existing suits. The fifth GUI element 410 is selected in Figure 4.

[0264] Figure 5 shows a fourth GUI page 500, in accordance with the present disclosure. The fourth GUI page 500 is accessed by selecting the second GUI element 304 of the second GUI page 300. The user may create a custom protective suit using the fourth GUI page 500. The user creates the custom protective suit using GUI elements that form part of the fourth GUI page 500. One or more of the GUI elements may be associated with a particular component of the custom protective suit. Selection of such a GUI element may enable the user to specify a property of the component, or a sub-component of the component, for example, using one or more other GUI elements that are associated with the selected GUI element. The user may view one of three pre-existing protective suit designs using the fourth GUI page 500. The user may select and / or view one or more components of a particular suit using the fourth GUI page 500. The user may customize a property of the respective protective suit using the fourth GUI page 500.

[0265] Figure 6 shows a fifth GUI page 600. A bioinformatic model 602 of the user is shown in the fifth GUI page 600. The fifth GUI page 600 may be used to input one or more bioinformatic characteristics of the user for use by the bioastronautics engine 109. The fifth GUI page 600 can be used to enable a three-dimensional scan of the user to be uploaded to the bioastronautics engine 109, a digital scan of the user to be uploaded to the bioastronautics engine 109 and / or a digital fit of a model of the user, with respect to a model of a protective suit, to be obtained.

[0266] Figure 7 shows a sixth GUI page 700. Another bioinformatic model 702 of the user is shown on the sixth GUI page 700. A model 704 of a protective suit is also shown on the sixth GUI page 700. A sensor system output 706 is also shown on the sixth GUI page 700. In this case, the sensor system is a camera system.

[0267] Figure 8 shows a seventh GUI page 800. A model 802 of a protective suit is shown in the seventh GUI page 800. A musculoskeletal model 804 of the user is also shown. The value of one or more parameters of the protective suit is also shown.

[0268] Figure 9 shows an eighth GUI page 900. A model 902 of a protective suit is shown in the eighth GUI page 900. A number of parameters of the protective suit are also shown. The eighth GUI page 900 shows a summary of the biomechanic performance of a particular protective suit, when simulated, by the bioastronautics engine 109, in use with the user’s bioinformatic model.

[0269] Figure 10 shows a nineth GUI page 1000. The nineth GUI page 1000 may be considered a telemetry GUI page. Data from various sensors of the suit management sensor system 140 and or sensors on-board the relevant protective suit can be provided to the bioastronautics engine 109, and visualised on the nineth GUI page 1000. In the illustrated embodiment, three video feeds 1002, 1004, 1006 are provided on the nineth GUI page 1000. Further, suit telemetry data sets 1008, 1010, 1012 are shown below the corresponding video feed 1002, 1004, 1006. A suit selection portion 1014 is provided. A particular suit type may be changed at the suit selection portion 1014.

[0270] Figure 11 shows a tenth GUI page 1100. The tenth GUI page 1100 is a data dashboard. The tenth GUI page 1100 comprises a plurality of GUI elements 1102, 1104, 1006, 1108, 1110, 1112. Each GUI element 1102, 1104, 1006, 1108, 1110, 1112 is associated with a particular category of data. The categories of data include suit configuration data, suit diagnostic data, biomedical data, biomechanical data, cognitive data and environmental data. Selection of one of the GUI elements 1102, 1104, 1006, 1108, 1110, 1112 will result in a page of a different level of the GUI hierarchy being rendered, the page showing specific data associated with the category of the GUI element 1102, 1104, 1006, 1108, 1110, 1112.

[0271] Figure 12 shows an eleventh GUI page 1200. The eleventh GUI page 1200 is a cognitive data dashboard. The eleventh GUI page 1200 is accessible via selection of the fifth GUI element 1110 of the tenth GUI page 1100. The eleventh GUI page 1200 shows cognitive data associated with the user.

[0272] Figure 13 shows a twelfth GUI page 1300. The twelfth GUI page 1300 is a suit diagnostic data dashboard. The twelfth GUI page 1300 is accessible via selection of the second GUI element 1104 of the tenth GUI page 1100. The twelfth GUI page 1300 shows diagnostic data of the protective suit that is subject to analysis.

[0273] Figures 14 and 15 show a thirteenth GUI page 1400. The thirteenth GUI page 1400 is a suit environment data dashboard. The thirteenth GUI page 1400 is accessible via selection of the sixth GUI element 1112 of the tenth GUI page 1100. The thirteenth GUI page 1400 enables the user to select a particular environment in which operation of the suit is to be assessed. For example, in Figure 14, the environment is selected to be one on Earth. In Figure 15, the environment is selected to be on the Moon.

[0274] Figures 16 to 20 show a number of GUI pages 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000. The GUI pages 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000 are associated with a data manager of the bioastronautics engine 109. In other words, the GUI pages 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000 are data manager GUI pages. The GUI pages 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000 are accessible via the fifth GUI element 310 of the second GUI page 300. The GUI page 1600 shows a charging state of a protective suit. The GUI page 1700 shows bioinformatic data associated with a user of a protective suit. The GUI page 1800 shows a plurality of environmental conditions that may be selected as part of an analysis to be performed by the bioastronautics engine 109. The GUI page 1900 shows a plurality of tiers of data that may be used by the bioastronautics engine. The GUI Page 2000 shows a plurality of characteristics of a protective suit.

[0275] The user may use one or more of the GUI pages described herein to initiate a suit analysis. The bioastronautics engine 109 may perform the analysis. In particular, the at least one processor 104 of the protective suit management system 102 may run the bioastronautics engine 109 to perform the analysis. The user may optimise the design of a protective suit, based at least in part on an outcome of the suit analysis.

[0276] Further Features of the System 102

[0277] From the preceding, it will be understood that the system 100, specifically the protective suit management system 102 (referred to in this section as “system”), is adapted to enable the user to provide a plurality of inputs to the bioastronautics engine 109. These inputs may be provided, for example, via a user device 112A-N.

[0278] Among other things, the system 102 enables the user to specify a suit exposure profile, comprising one or more environmental conditions to which the protective suit is to be exposed. This may be termed an “exposure input”, and may comprise exposure input data defining the suit exposure profile. The system 102 also enables the user to specify whether the suit exposure profile pertains to a real environment to which the protective suit is to be exposed, or a simulated environment; this may be termed a “type indicator input” which may comprise type indicator input data. Where the environment is to be simulated, this may be achieved using one or more one or more environmental simulation devices (as discussed elsewhere in this description), to simulate environmental conditions applied to the protective suit 130A- M. Alternatively, the environment may be simulated by being virtually simulated in conjunction with a virtual protective suit.

[0279] Thus, the system 102 is configured to receive said exposure input and said type indicator input. That is to say, for a given instance of use of the system 102, the user is able to specify not only the desired or required exposure profile, but also whether the exposure profile is to be applied to the protective suit 130A-M in reality (such as by the suit being tested in the field) or virtually / by simulation. The user may provide these inputs via one or more of the user devices 112A-N.

[0280] The type indicator input may be in the form of a direct indication of whether the exposure profile is to be real or simulated. Alternatively, the type indicator input may be an indirect indication. For example, the type indicator input may comprise an indication of whether the protective suit is a real protective suit 130A-M or a virtual protective suit (per the GUI elements 202, 204 in Figure 2). Where the protective suit is a virtual protective suit, the system 102 may infer that the exposure profile is to be simulated.

[0281] It is within the scope of the disclosure for the system 102 to enable a type indicator input to be entered in respect of each of a plurality of environmental conditions comprised in the exposure profile. Thus, some environmental conditions may be real, while others may be simulated.

[0282] The exposure input may be in the form of the user selecting from a plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles, each comprising a preprogrammed plurality of environmental conditions. Each of the preprogrammed suit exposure profiles may relate to a preprogrammed environment. For instance, the preprogrammed suit exposure profiles may relate to different planets; and / or may relate to different sets of conditions or circumstances, such as water, land, air, space. The user may select one of said plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles, for example as shown in Figures 14 and 15. Altematively, or additionally, the exposure input may be in the form of the user entering customized parameter values for one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions comprising the exposure profile.

[0283] Alternatively, or additionally, the user may select one of said plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles, but then customize a parameter value of one or more of its environmental conditions. Alternatively, or additionally, the user may select one of said plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles and then add further customized environmental conditions.

[0284] One or more GUI elements may be used to enable the user to input the exposure input and the type indicator input. For instance, in Figure 2, GUI elements 202, 204 enable input of the type indicator input and GUI elements 206-218 enable input of the exposure input (or one or more or the plurality of environmental conditions). As described above, the GUI elements may be in a hierarchical relationship, with content of a second GUI element changing depending on an input received at the first GUI element.

[0285] Furthermore, the plurality of environmental conditions comprising the exposure profile may be of different subtypes. For example, one subtype may be termed an “operating environment”, and may relate to relatively static environmental aspects, such as which planet is in question, or whether land, sea, or air are in question. Another subtype may be termed “operating circumstances”, and may relate to more dynamic environmental aspects, such as which phase of travel is in question (for instance take-off, cruise, landing). Another subtype may relate to an activity, task and / or motion to be performed by the suit user. Thus, a first GUI element may enable input of operating environment data, and a second GUI element may enable input of activity data. Furthermore, a preliminary GUI element may enable input of type indicator input data. Furthermore, an intermediate GUI element between the first and second GUI elements may enable input of operating circumstances data.

[0286] Furthermore, the system 102 may enable the user to input, such as via a GUI element(s), an indication that one or more environmental conditions (such as a parameter value(s) of same) are to be altered at an intermediate point. Such an indication may be inputted at an initial stage, or dynamically via an interim input, such as during the simulation.

[0287] As noted above, the system 102 is configured to operate as described herein in respect of one, some or all of a plurality of protective suits 130A-M (including virtual protective suits).

[0288] Thus, the system 102 described in this section may be adapted to function as described herein in respect of a first and second protective suit. More particularly, for each of the first and second protective suit, the system 102 may receive an exposure input specifying an exposure profile for that suit, and a type indicator input indicating whether the exposure profile is to be real or simulated in respect of the respective suit. The system 102 may receive the respective exposure inputs, and / or the respective type indicator inputs, concurrently, at different times, or in an overlapping fashion. The system 102 may generate the first and second protective suit outputs concurrently, at different times, or in an overlapping fashion.

[0289] The first and second exposure input data (that is to say, the exposure input data pertaining to the first and second protective suit) may be different from each other. For instance, one or more of the respective environmental conditions, and / or parameter values of same, may be different from each other. In some embodiments, the exposure input data may comprise a location, and the location data of the respective suits may be different.

[0290] Furthermore, the first and second type indicator input data (that is to say, the type indicator input data pertaining to the first and second protective suit) may be different from each other. For example, the first type indicator may indicate real exposure input data, and the second type indicator may indicate simulated exposure input data. Exemplarily, the respective sets of exposure input data may otherwise be the same, in which case the second protective suit may act as a “digital twin” (that is to say, a virtual or simulated version) of the exposure profile to which the first protective suit is exposed.

[0291] The system 102 may also be configured to receive first protective suit input data and second protective suit input data, relating to respective parameters of the suits, which may be the same (such as to provide a “digital twin” protective suit scenario) or different. The system 102 may also be configured to receive first user characteristic input data and second user characteristic input data, relating to respective biomedical characteristics of the suit users, which may be the same or different.

[0292] The system 102 may be configured to use data pertaining to the first protective suit to implement an action in respect of the second protective suit. For instance, where one suit is a “digital twin” of the other, a result or performance metric observed in the case of the real suit may be used to adjust a parameter of the “digital twin” to test what effect this change has on performance (or vice versa). In another example, the respective suits may have different parameters and / or be in different environments, but a phenomenon observed in respect of the first suit may be deemed relevant to the second suit and a relevant adjustment may accordingly be made by the system to the second suit. For example, it may be observed, in respect of the first suit, that a motion of a portion of the suit exceeding a certain range of motion may tend to result in failure or breakage. Thus, the system 102 may cause the second protective suit to limit its operating range of motion as a result, to minimize risk of failure or breakage. The first protective suit output generated by the system 102 may comprise diagnostic data indicating a required change to a specific one of the plurality of protective suit parameters of the first protective suit. Based on this, the system 102 may be adapted to generate a protective suit control signal implementing the required change, and apply the protective suit control signal to a corresponding protective suit parameter of the second protective suit. That is, the protective suit control signal is configured to change the value of a protective suit parameter of the second protective suit.

[0293] The control signal may comprise the second protective suit output.

[0294] The diagnostic data may be obtained using a sensor configured to monitor parameters of the protective suit. The sensor may be of one or more of the kinds and configurations described elsewhere in this specification. Furthermore, the system 102 may use data not only pertaining to the protective suit per se, but also pertaining to the environmental conditions and the user characteristics, wherein such data obtained in respect of the first suit may be used to implement an action in respect of the second suit. The respective sensors for detecting the environmental conditions and the user characteristics may be of one or more of the kinds and configurations described elsewhere in this specification.

[0295] Instead of the first protective suit output indicating a required change, the first protective suit output may indicate a recommended change. The system 102 may generate a recommendation as to a proposed parameter change to the second protective suit, which may be displayed to the user of the system 102.

[0296] As noted herein, the system 102 may be adapted to receive protective suit configmation input data, which may comprise protective suit input data and suit exposure input data. The system 102 may be adapted to receive user characteristic input data. The system 102 may be configured to, in respect of each of the respective input data types, receive, respectively, a first, second and third type indicator input. The first type indicator input may indicate whether the protective suit input data is real or simulated. The second type indicator input may indicate whether the suit exposure input data is real or simulated. The third type indicator input may indicate whether the user characteristic input data is real or simulated.

[0297] Thus, the user may selectively input into the system 102 any combination of “real” and “simulated” versions of the respective input data types. All of the input data types may be real. All of the input data types may be simulated. Some of the input data types may be real while others are simulated. One of the input data types may be real while two are simulated. Two of the input data types may be real while one is simulated.

[0298] Furthermore, the system 102 may be adapted to receive the first, second and third type indicator inputs in respect of each protective suit of a plurality of protective suits 130A-M, which may all be real, may all be virtual, or may be variously real and virtual.

[0299] The respective type indicator inputs may be inputted by the user via one or more GUI elements.

[0300] As noted herein, the system 102 may be adapted to receive protective suit configmation input data, which may comprise protective suit input data and / or suit exposure input data. The system 102 may be adapted to receive user characteristic input data. In some embodiments, the protective suit configuration input data may comprise the user characteristic input data.

[0301] At least some of the protective suit input data may be obtained by recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit 130 A-M. At least some of the user characteristic input data may be obtained by recording a measurement from at least one of: a motion capture system; or a suit user sensor connected to the suit user. The user characteristic input data may comprise a motion parameter, being a range of motion or a dimension of motion of a portion of the suit user. The system 102 may be adapted to identify the portion of the suit user to which the motion relates. The system 102 may be adapted to correlate said portion of the suit user to a corresponding portion of the protective suit 130A-M. The system 102 may be adapted to, from the protective suit input data, identify a range of motion of said corresponding portion of the protective suit 130A-M. The system 102 may be adapted to identify whether the motion of the suit user is within the range of motion of said corresponding portion of the protective suit 130A-M. The system 102 may be adapted to perform these steps in respect of each of a plurality of protective suits 130A-M.

[0302] It will be understood that the further features and variations of the system 102 described in this section comprise corresponding methods. It will further be understood that the below-described method embodiments 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400 may be effected using the variations of the system 102 described in this section.

[0303] It will also be understood that the system 102 described in this section may otherwise have the features and functionality of the system 100, and in particular the protective suit management system 102, described further above.

[0304] Method 2100 for Optimizing a Protective Suit

[0305] As described herein, a bioastronautics engine 109 is provided. The bioastronautics engine 109 enables the optimization of a design of a protective suit, based at least in part on input data.

[0306] Figure 21 shows a process flow diagram of a method 2100. The method 2100 is a method for optimizing a protective suit. The at least one processor 104 may run the bioinformatics engine 109 in order to perform the method 2100.

[0307] At 2102, the at least one processor 104 receives protective suit configuration input data. In particular, the bioastronautics engine 109 receives the protective suit configuration input data. The protective suit configuration input data may be received by way of receiving a number of inputs to the bioastronautics engine 109, via one or more GUI pages rendered on the display of the user device 112A-N. The protective suit configuration input data may be received by way of receiving one or more data files that comprise data indicative of a protective suit configuration. The at least one processor 104 may retrieve the protective suit configuration input data from memory 106. It will be understood that in retrieving data from a memory module, the at least one processor 104 may be considered to receive the relevant data.

[0308] At 2102, the at least one processor 104 receives user characteristic input data. In particular, the bioastronautics engine 109 receives the user characteristic input data. The user characteristic input data may be received by way of receiving a number of inputs to the bioastronautics engine 109, via one or more GUI pages rendered on the display of the user device 112A-N. The user characteristic input data may be received by way of receiving one or more data files that comprise data indicative of a biological characteristic of the suit user. The at least one processor 104 may retrieve the user characteristic input data from memory 106. It will be understood that in retrieving data from a memory module, the at least one processor 104 may be considered to receive the relevant data. The user characteristic input data is associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of the suit user.

[0309] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise virtual protective suit input data. The virtual protective suit input data is associated with virtual protective suit model data. In other words, the virtual protective suit input data is associated with a virtual model of a protective suit. The protective suit represented by the virtual model may not have yet been manufactured. The virtual protective suit input data may therefore be said to be associated with a virtual protective suit. The virtual protective suit model data may comprise a three-dimensional model of the virtual protective suit. The virtual protective suit model data may comprise a two-dimensional model of the virtual protective suit. The virtual protective suit model data may comprise a plurality of two-dimensional models of the virtual protective suit.

[0310] The virtual protective suit model data comprises values for each of a plurality of virtual protective suit parameters. The value of each virtual protective suit parameter is indicative of a respective characteristic of the virtual protective suit. The plurality of virtual protective suit parameters may comprise a dimension parameter. The dimension parameter is associated with a dimension of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit. In particular, a value of the dimension parameter indicates a dimension of the virtual component of the virtual protective suit. The plurality of virtual protective suit parameters may comprise a material parameter. The material parameter is associated with a material of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit. In particular, a value of the material parameter indicates a material from which at least part of the virtual component of the virtual protective suit is to be considered to comprise.

[0311] The plurality of virtual protective suit parameters may comprise a material property parameter. The material property parameter is associated with a material property of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit. In particular, a value of the material property parameter indicates a property, such as strength, hardness, flexibility etc., of at least part of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit.

[0312] The plurality of virtual protective suit parameters may comprise a mass parameter. The mass parameter is associated with a mass of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit. In particular, a value of the mass parameter indicates a mass of the virtual component of the virtual protective suit.

[0313] The plurality of virtual protective suit parameters may comprise an operating range of motion parameter. The operating range of motion parameter is associated with an operating range of motion of one or more virtual component of the virtual protective suit. In particular, a value of the operating range of motion parameter indicates an operating range of motion of the virtual component of the virtual protective suit.

[0314] The plurality of virtual protective suit parameters may comprise a virtual sensor parameter. The virtual sensor parameter is associated with a virtual sensor of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit. In particular, a value of the virtual sensor parameter indicates a virtual sensor reading of the virtual sensor.

[0315] The user may interact with one or more GUI pages in order to provide at least some of the protective suit configuration input data. For example, the user may select the “Create suit” GUI element 304 on the second GUI page 300 described herein, and provide the value of one or more virtual protective suit parameters via another GUI page.

[0316] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise protective suit input data. The protective suit input data is associated with a protective suit 130A-M. The protective suit 130A-M is a real-world protective suit.

[0317] The protective suit model data comprises values for each of a plurality of protective suit parameters. The value of each protective suit parameter is indicative of a respective characteristic of the protective suit. The plurality of protective suit parameters may comprise a dimension parameter. The dimension parameter is associated with a dimension of a component of the protective suit. In particular, a value of the dimension parameter indicates a dimension of the component of the protective suit. The plurality of protective suit parameters may comprise a material parameter. The material parameter is associated with a material of a component of the protective suit. In particular, a value of the material parameter indicates a material from which at least part of the component of the protective suit is to be considered to comprise.

[0318] The plurality of protective suit parameters may comprise a material property parameter. The material property parameter is associated with a material property of a component of the protective suit. In particular, a value of the material property parameter indicates a property, such as strength, hardness, flexibility etc., of at least part of a component of the protective suit.

[0319] The plurality of protective suit parameters may comprise a mass parameter. The mass parameter is associated with a mass of a component of the protective suit. In particular, a value of the mass parameter indicates a mass of the component of the protective suit.

[0320] The plurality of protective suit parameters may comprise an operating range of motion parameter. The operating range of motion parameter is associated with an operating range of motion of one or more component of the protective suit. In particular, a value of the operating range of motion parameter indicates an operating range of motion of the component of the protective suit.

[0321] The plurality of protective suit parameters may comprise a sensor parameter. The sensor parameter is associated with a sensor of a component of the protective suit. In particular, a value of the sensor parameter indicates a sensor reading of the sensor.

[0322] The user may interact with one or more GUI pages in order to provide at least some of the protective suit configuration input data. For example, the user may select the “Create suit” GUI element 304 on the second GUI page 300 described herein, and provide the value of one or more protective suit parameters via another GUI page.

[0323] The at least one processor 104 may generate a virtual model of the protective suit 130A-M, based at least in part on the value of one or more of the protective suit parameters.

[0324] The protective suit configuration input data comprises suit exposure input data. The suit exposure input data is associated with at least one environmental condition to which it is expected that the relevant protective suit or virtual protective suit may be exposed. The suit exposure input data may comprise at least one of a simulated acceleration, a simulated velocity, a simulated force, a simulated temperature and a simulated pressure. Simulated environmental conditions are used in the case where the processor 104 is running a simulation of a virtual protective suit in its implementation of the method 2100. That is, simulated environmental conditions are used in the case where a virtual protective suit is being optimized using the method 2100.

[0325] The suit exposure input data may comprise at least one of an acceleration, a velocity, a force, a temperature and a pressure. Real environmental conditions are used in the case where a physical protective suit 130A-M is being optimized using the method 2100. In such a case, the suit exposure input data may be received from one or more environmental sensors. These environmental sensors may be part of the suit management sensor system 140. At least some of the suit exposure input data may be received from one or more sensors of the protective suit 130A-M itself. Alternatively, these values may be provided by the user of the bioastronautics engine 109, for example, via an appropriate GUI page.

[0326] The protective suit configuration input data may comprise the user characteristic input data. The user characteristic input data is associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of the suit user.

[0327] It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the suit user will be the same user as the user of the bioastronautics engine 109. In some embodiments, the suit user will be a different person to the user of the bioastronautics engine 109.

[0328] The user characteristic input data comprises a plurality of biomedical parameters of the suit user. A value of each biomedical parameter is indicative of a respective biomedical characteristic of the suit user. The value of at least one of the biomedical parameters may be received from a sensor of the suit management sensor system 140. For example, one or more camera system of the suit management sensor system 140 may provide data indicative of a range of motion of the suit user. The value of at least one of the biomedical parameters may be received from a sensor of the suit 130A-M itself, in the case where a real suit is being optimized. In the present specification, a sensor(s) configured to detect user characteristic input data or a portion thereof may be referred to as a “user characteristic sensor”.

[0329] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a dimension parameter. A value of the dimension parameter is indicative of a dimension of a part of the suit user.

[0330] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a range of motion parameter. A value of the range of motion parameter is indicative of a range of motion of a part of the suit user. For example, a value of the range of motion parameter may be indicative of a range of motion of one of the suit user’s shoulder joints.

[0331] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a musculoskeletal parameter. A value of the musculoskeletal parameter is indicative of a musculoskeletal characteristic of a part of the suit user. For example, a value of the musculoskeletal parameter may be indicative of a height of the suit user.

[0332] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a vital sign parameter. A value of the vital sign parameter is indicative of a vital sign of the suit user. For example, a value of the vital sign parameter may be indicative of a heart rate of the suit user. This may be a historical heart rate, or a real-time heart rate, if measured by a sensor of a real protective suit 130A-M.

[0333] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a nervous system parameter. A value of the nervous system parameter is indicative of a nervous system characteristic of the suit user.

[0334] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a cardiovascular parameter. A value of the cardiovascular parameter is indicative of a cardiovascular characteristic of the suit user. For example, a value of the cardiovascular parameter may be indicative of a blood pressure of the suit user. This may be a historical blood pressure, or a real-time blood pressure, if measured by a sensor of a real protective suit 130A-M.

[0335] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a respiratory parameter. A value of the respiratory parameter is indicative of a respiratory characteristic of the suit user. For example, a value of the respiratory parameter may be indicative of a breathing rate of the suit user. This may be a historical breathing rate, or a real-time breathing rate, if measured by a sensor of a real protective suit 130A-M.

[0336] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a blood parameter. A value of the blood parameter is indicative of a blood characteristic of the suit user. For example, a value of the blood parameter may be indicative of a blood glucose level of the suit user. This may be a historical blood glucose level, or a realtime blood glucose level, if measured by a sensor of a real protective suit 130A-M.

[0337] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises an immunity parameter. A value of the immunity parameter is indicative of an immunity of the suit user.

[0338] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises an inflammation parameter. A value of the inflammation parameter is indicative of an inflammation of a part of the suit user.

[0339] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a gastrointestinal parameter. A value of the gastrointestinal parameter is indicative of a gastrointestinal state of the suit user.

[0340] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a liver parameter. A value of the liver parameter is indicative of a liver characteristic of the suit user. The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a renal parameter. A value of the renal parameter is indicative of a renal characteristic of the suit user.

[0341] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises an endocrine parameter. A value of the endocrine parameter is indicative of hormone level of the suit user.

[0342] The plurality of biomedical parameters comprises a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) parameter. A value of the DNA parameter is indicative of a characteristic of the suit user’s DNA.

[0343] The method 2100 may comprise determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data. For example, the at least one processor 104 may determine one or more parts of the user characteristic input data from sensor data provided from one or both of the suit management sensor system 140 and the sensors of the protective suit 130A-N, where relevant. The suit management sensor system 140 may comprise a motion capture system. Therefore, in some embodiments, at least some of the user characteristic input data is determined using a motion capture system. The method 2100 may therefore be said to comprise determining at least some of the user characteristic input data.

[0344] The method 2100 may proceed along one of a number of paths subsequent to the receipt of the protective suit configuration input data. In the case where a virtual protective suit is being considered, performance of the virtual protective suit may be simulated in order to optimize the design of the virtual protective suit. Therefore, in such a case, the method 2100 may proceed to 2104.

[0345] At 2104, the at least one processor 104 performs a virtual protective suit simulation. The virtual protective suit simulation comprises simulating the performance of the virtual protective suit under environmental conditions specified as per the suit exposure input data. The virtual protective suit input data, suit exposure input data and user characteristic input data are inputs of the virtual protective suit simulation. Thus, the virtual protective suit simulation is dependent, in part, on the environmental condition(s) specified the suit exposure data. A change in the specified environmental condition(s) will or may lead to a change in the protective suit output of the virtual protective suit simulation. That is to say, a virtual protective suit having the same parameters but being subjected to two different sets of environmental condition(s) in two different simulations, will or may result in two different protective suit outputs. For example, the virtual protective suit may perform differently in the two different sets of environmental condition(s).

[0346] In the case where a real-world protective suit 130A-M is being optimized, the method 2100 proceeds from 2102 to 2106. At 2106, the at least one processor 104 performs an analysis of performance of the protective suit 130A-M. In this case, the environmental conditions specified as per the suit exposure input data may reflect the environment within which the protective suit 130A-M is being used during data gathering. Alternatively, the protective suit 130A-M may be used in a manner that is consistent with the environmental conditions specified as per the suit exposure input data. For example, one or more actuators (e.g. of the suit, or external actuators) may be used to emulate gravity in another location, in order to assess the performance of the suit under that emulated gravity. Sensor data from sensors of the protective suit 130A-M and / or from the suit management sensor system 140 is processed in the analysis at step 2106. The protective suit input data, suit exposure input data and user characteristic input data are inputs of the analysis of 2106.

[0347] At 2108, the at least one processor 104 generates a protective suit output. In particular, the at least one processor 104 generates the protective suit output based at least in part on the protective suit configuration input data and the user characteristic input data. The protective suit output comprises protective suit output data.

[0348] Where the simulation of 2104 was performed, the protective suit output is generated in response to an outcome of the virtual protective suit simulation. The protective suit output may comprise a performance report. The performance report indicates a performance of the virtual protective suit in the simulation. That is, the performance report indicates one or more metrics of performance of the protective suit in the simulation. The protective suit output data may comprise the performance report.

[0349] Where the analysis of 2106 was performed, the protective suit output is generated in response to an outcome of the analysis. The protective suit output may comprise a performance report. The performance report indicates a performance of the protective suit 130A-M in operation. The protective suit output data may comprise the performance report.

[0350] In either case, the performance report may include a number of suggestions. The suggestions may be operational suggestions, such as recommendations in relation to protective suit thermal management or life support system operational suggestions.

[0351] In some embodiments, the protective suit output may comprise a protective suit control signal. The protective suit control signal is configured to control one or more component of the protective suit 130A- M. Therefore, in some embodiments, the at least one processor 104 controls a component of the protective suit 130A-M. The at least one processor 104 may be said to control the component of the protective suit 130A-M based at least in part on the simulation of 2104. The at least one processor 104 may be said to control the component of the protective suit 130A-M based at least in part on the analysis of 2106. For example, an actuator of the protective suit 130A-M may be moved from a first position to a second position, in response to the generation of the protective suit output. The at least one processor 104 may transmit the protective suit output to the protective suit 130A-M in such a case. That is, the at least one processor 104 may transmit the protective suit output to the protective suit 130A-M. In response to the protective suit 130A-M receiving the protective suit output, the actuator may move from the first position to the second position. A controller of the protective suit 130A-M may receive the protective suit output and move the actuator in response. Alternatively, the protective suit output may directly control the actuator.

[0352] This may be the case, for example, where an outcome of the analysis was that a range of motion of a joint of the protective suit 130A-M should be reduced to reduce a failure rate of the protective suit 130A-M. If the particular range of motion of the protective suit 130A-M is controlled by an actuator, the new, reduced range of motion can be implemented by way of actuation of the actuator.

[0353] In some cases, the protective suit control signal is configured to control one or more onboard system of the protective suit 130A-M. That is, the at least one processor 104 may transmit the protective suit output to the protective suit 130A-M. In response to the protective suit 130A-M receiving the protective suit output, a functionality of an onboard system of the protective suit 130A-M changes. This may include one or more actuator, motor, life support system component, other system of the protective suit 130A-M etc. The protective suit output may cause a change in a value of an operating parameter of the protective suit. For example, the protective suit output may change a rate at which a motor of the protective suit 130A-M rotates. In this way, the protective suit output may be configured to cause the protective suit 130A-M to take pre-emptive actions on mission critical tasks.

[0354] In some embodiments, the protective suit output comprises an optimised virtual protective suit model. That is, the at least one processor 104, by way of either the simulation of 2104 or the analysis of 2106, may change a value of one or more of the parameters associated with the virtual protective suit or the protective suit 130A-M, and output the optimised virtual protective suit model that incorporates the changed value(s). For example, the at least one processor 104 may change a value of at least one of the dimension parameter, the material parameter, the material property parameter, the mass parameter, the operating range of motion parameter and the sensor parameter of an optimized model emulating the protective suit 130A-M. Alternatively, the at least one processor 104 may change a value of at least one of the dimension parameter, the material parameter, the material property parameter, the mass parameter, the operating range of motion parameter and the virtual sensor parameter of an optimized virtual protective suit model. A protective suit constructed in accordance with the optimized virtual protective suit model may exhibit improved performance in the environmental conditions associated with the suit exposure input data of the method 2100.

[0355] The method 2100 therefore enables the optimization of a design of a protective suit, whether that be a real-world protective suit 130A-M being tested and analysed in real-word conditions, or a virtual protective suit that is being simulated under simulated operating conditions. The method 2100 also enables the optimization of the performance of a protective suit, for example, by way of enabling a change in the functionality of an onboard system of the protective suit. This may, for example, be by way of a change in a value of an operating parameter of the protective suit.

[0356] Figure 22 shows another process flow diagram of a method 2200. The method 2200 is a method for optimizing a protective suit. The at least one processor 104 may run the bioinformatics engine 109 in order to perform the method 2200. Thus, the at least one processor 104 may perform one or more steps of the method 2200. One or more of the methods described herein may be considered a computer-implemented method.

[0357] The method 2200 of Figure 22 focuses on a scenario where all data types are being simulated. That is to say, the protective suit is a virtual protective suit being simulated, the exposure data is being simulated, and the suit user (and thus at least some of the user characteristic input data) is being simulated. Figure 22 is an exemplary flow diagram showing steps of the method 2200. It will be understood that the steps of the method 2200 may vary from what is shown, and / or some steps may recur.

[0358] At steps 2202, 2204 and 2206, data is inputted of, respectively, the following types: virtual protective suit input data; certain simulated user characteristic input data; and simulated suit exposure input data. At least some of the data may be inputted via one or more of the GUIs of the bioastronautics engine 109. At least some of the data may be provided from an external source. For example, at least some of the data may be provided as a data fde. This may be considered inputting the respective data.

[0359] At 2202, the at least one processor 104 receives the virtual protective suit configuration input data (that is to say, virtual protective suit input data). The virtual protective suit input data inputted at 2202, including data retrieved from a storage or memory such as memory 106, may comprise a virtual representation of the protective suit, for example a three-dimensional model. The virtual protective suit input data may also comprise one or more virtual protective suit parameters, for example as inputted by the user or determined automatically, such as by being preprogrammed for the particular component or type of protective suit. The parameters may be as described herein, for example one or more of a dimension, material, material property, mass, operating range of motion, or virtual sensor of the virtual protective suit or a component of same. At 2204, the at least one processor 104 receives simulated user characteristic input data. The simulated user characteristic input data inputted at 2204, including data retrieved from a storage or memory such as memory 106, may comprise “static” user characteristic input data. For example, a height and weight of the suit user (aka the user of the virtual protective suit), and data pertaining to other biomedical characteristics of the suit user that are relatively static and not prone to change during movement or exertion, may be considered static user characteristic input data. The simulated user characteristic input data is associated with at least one simulated biomedical characteristic of the suit user.

[0360] At 2206, the at least one processor receives simulated suit exposure input data. The simulated suit exposure input data inputted at 2206, including data retrieved from a storage or memory such as memory 106, in addition to environmental conditions, may include one or more activities, tasks or environmental sub-conditions that are to be experienced by the virtual protective suit (and the suit user, as simulated) during the simulation. For instance, during the simulation a change in light conditions, or temperature conditions, is to occur; or during the simulation the suit user is to undertake a walk under altered gravity conditions followed by a specified item of mechanical work. Such one or more activities, tasks or environmental sub-conditions may be preprogrammed and retrieved at step 2206. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more such activities, tasks or environmental sub-conditions may be inputted dynamically during the simulation, such as by the suit user or a facilitator (such as a supervisor of the simulation).

[0361] At 2208, further simulated user characteristic input data is inputted. In other words, the at least one processor 104 receives further simulated user characteristic input data. This further data is to assist in performing the simulation, and in particular in approximating the suit user’s biomedical or physiological response to the simulated virtual protective suit and the simulated environmental conditions. The further simulated user characteristic input data may be obtained from a database. For example, the database may be a user characteristic database, containing data from other suit users having various biomedical characteristics, wearing various types (and components) of protective suits having different parameters, and exposed to various environmental conditions. In use, for instance using artificial intelligence, during the simulation data from one or more of the other suit users may be utilized to model or approximate or emulate the biomedical or physiological parameters of the suit user as they are subjected to the simulated environmental conditions while wearing the virtual protective suit. In some examples, simulation data from the one or more other suit users that is utilized for this purpose may be data of other suit users whose overall parameters (biomedical data, protective suit data, exposure data) are as close as possible to those of the suit user involved in the simulation (based on the data inputted at steps 2202, 2204, 2206). In other examples, simulation data from the one or more other suit users that is utilized for this purpose may be data of other suit users of whom one parameter in particular is as close as possible to that of the suit user involved in the simulation. Furthermore, where the other suit user(s) whose data is being utilized have parameters that are similar to, but not identical to, those of the suit user involved in the simulation, such differences may be accounted for or factored in, such as using artificial intelligence, to further model or approximate or emulate the biomedical or physiological parameters of the suit user as they are subjected to the simulated environmental conditions while wearing the virtual protective suit. For instance, data from one or more other suit users may be being utilized, said one or more other suit users having parameters similar to those of the suit user involved in the simulation other than a difference in weight of a component of the protective suit. This difference may be accounted for, such as by estimating that, due to the extra weight, a particular anatomical component of the suit user will be exerted a certain amount more than that of the one or more other suit users. During the simulation, data from one or more other suit users in the user characteristic database may be utilized, and this data may be utilized sequentially or simultaneously.

[0362] In another example, the further simulated user characteristic input data inputted at step 2208 is obtained from a database of past biomedical responses of the suit user. The database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may store data recording biomedical or physiological parameters of the suit user from an earlier point in time, collected as the suit user was performing one or more known activities under known conditions (such as clothing parameters, environmental conditions). Since the effort or energy to perform these activities under the relevant conditions is known or calculable, the data as to the suit user’s biomedical or physiological parameters under those conditions may be used, such as by using artificial intelligence, to model or estimate or emulate the suit user’s biomedical or physiological parameters as they are subjected to the simulated environmental conditions while wearing the virtual protective suit. For instance, if the activity being simulated (and / or the environmental conditions and / or virtual protective suit parameters) expends a known or calculable amount more effort or energy than the activity performed by the suit user at the earlier point in time, the suit user’s data from that point in time may be adjusted to account for the greater effort or energy now required, and thus the user’s approximate biomedical or physiological parameters may be simulated. During the simulation, one or more items of data from the database of past biomedical responses of the suit user may be utilized, and this data may be utilized sequentially or simultaneously.

[0363] Instead of the user characteristic database and / or database(s) of past biomedical responses of the suit user, the suit user’s biomedical or physiological response to the simulated virtual protective suit and the simulated environmental conditions may be determined or approximated based on one or more preset formulae.

[0364] At 2211, the virtual protective suit simulation begins. In other words, at 2211, the at least one processor 104 performs a virtual protective suit simulation. The steps of the simulation will now be described. At step 2210, core features of the simulation are undertaken. In other words, at 2210, the at least one processor performs a core simulation. The desired environmental condition^) and any preprogrammed activities, tasks or changes in environmental conditions, are simulated based on the simulated suit exposure data. The suit user and the virtual protective suit are also simulated, based respectively on the simulated user characteristic input data (and any further simulated user characteristic input data) and virtual protective suit configuration input data (that is to say, virtual protective suit input data).

[0365] The parameters and performance of the simulated suit user, and the virtual protective suit, are determined with respect to their own respective data type, but also with respect to the other two data types. For instance, the parameters of the simulated suit user are determined, or approximated or modelled or emulated, with regard to the simulated suit exposure data and the virtual suit configuration data. For example, the amount of energy expended, or effort taken, by the simulated suit user may be determined by reference to the inputted simulated user characteristic input data, such as “static” biomedical or physiological data, which may provide a baseline as to the simulated suit user’s expected parameters, but also by reference to the parameters (weight, tightness, breathability, for example) of the virtual protective suit or its components, and by reference to any environmental conditions occurring at a given point in the simulation (activities or environmental changes). Thus, the effects of the virtual protective suit parameters and the environmental conditions are applied to the user’s known or approximated biomedical or physiological data to model or approximate or emulate their biomedical or physiological reactions to these variables during the simulation. The further simulated user characteristic input data discussed above, in the form of databases, may further inform the approximation of the simulated suit user’s biomedical or physiological reactions. Additionally or alternatively, one or more preset formulae may be used.

[0366] Similarly, the parameters and performance of the virtual protective suit are determined, or approximated or modelled or emulated, with regard to the simulated suit exposure data and simulated user characteristic input data. For example, the effect of varying heat or humidity conditions (as simulated) on the virtual protective suit may be approximated or modelled or emulated; as may the effect of any activities or tasks undertaken by the simulated suit user in the relevant environmental conditions. The effect of the simulated suit user’s parameters on the virtual protective suit may also be approximated or modelled or emulated; for example, the simulated suit user’s height, weight, weight distribution, anatomical dimensions.

[0367] At step 2212, based on data generated during the simulation, a simulated user characteristic event is detected. In other words, at 2212, the at least one processor detects a simulated user characteristic event, based on data generated during the simulation. For example, the simulated user characteristic event may comprise motion of the body of the simulated suit user (also referred to herein as a “motion event”), or a portion thereof. In another example, the simulated user characteristic event may comprise pain, or excessive pressure. The simulated user characteristic event may comprise a failure of the suit that would cause an adverse impact on the user of the suit. For example, where the suit is a space suit, the suit may fail to maintain an operating pressure (e.g. via a hole developing). This could cause a severe adverse outcome for the suit user. Such a failure of the suit may be considered a simulated user characteristic event. Alternatively, such a failure of the suit may be considered to be, or referred to as, a suit characteristic event. Therefore, in some embodiments, at 2212, the at least one processor may be said to detect a simulated suit characteristic event. The simulated suit characteristic event may indicate a failure of the suit. Where user characteristic event is used herein, it will be appreciated that the relevant description may also be applicable to a suit characteristic event.

[0368] The simulated user characteristic event occurs as a result of the simulation of step 2210. In other words, the simulation of the simulated suit user, in light of the simulated suit exposure data and the virtual suit configuration data, has determined that the simulated suit user will be experiencing the simulated user characteristic event as a result. The simulated user characteristic event may be detected based on, for example, a change in a parameter value of the relevant data type or subtype over time. Where the simulated user characteristic event comprises motion, it may be detected based on a change in the coordinates of the relevant part of the simulated suit user’s body over time; and / or it may be detected based on movement of the three-dimensional virtual model of the suit user.

[0369] The portion of the simulated body of the suit user with which the simulated user characteristic event is associated is determined, for instance based on the coordinates of the portion of the simulated body of the suit user where the user characteristic event is occurring, or by reference to predetermined anatomical locations on the simulated body of the suit user.

[0370] The identified portion of the simulated body of the suit user is then correlated to a portion of the virtual protective suit. For instance, the identified coordinates on the simulated body of the suit user which have been determined to be associated with the simulated user characteristic event may be cross-referenced against, or mapped on to, coordinates of the virtual protective suit; and / or three-dimensional virtual models of, respectively, the simulated body of the suit user and the virtual protective suit may be overlaid or compared to correlate the identified portion of the simulated body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

[0371] Based on this, data may be extracted as to the parameters of that portion or region of the suit. For instance, any features or components in that portion or region; the material and material properties in that portion or region; the dimensions of that portion or region; as well as data generated by the simulation as to the parameters and performance of that portion or region. This information may be analysed in conjunction with data relating to the portion of the simulated body of the suit user, as well as data relating to the simulated user characteristic event.

[0372] Correlating the data sets in this way enables identification of any potential issues with the performance of the virtual protective suit, in view of the simulated suit user and the simulated environmental conditions. For instance, tightness of a portion of the virtual protective suit relative to a portion of the simulated suit user’s body may be identified; or excessive pressure; or failure of a portion of the virtual protective suit to accommodate or withstand the conditions imposed by the simulated suit user and the simulated environment; or an operating range of motion of a portion of the virtual protective suit that is not consistent with a range of motion of a corresponding portion of the simulated suit user’s body. The correlated data may be included in the protective suit output, at the end of or during the simulation. The correlated data may also form the basis of recommendations as to design improvements of the virtual protective suit, and / or as to improvements that the simulated suit user can make; these recommendations may likewise be provided at the end of the simulation or during the simulation. Other data may also be included in the protective suit output and / or recommendations.

[0373] While steps 2210 and 2212 are each shown in Figure 22 as one distinct step (repeated at step 2220), it will be understood that these steps may be occurring continuously throughout the process of the simulation 2211, including while certain other steps of the simulation are occurring.

[0374] At step 2214, an interim output is generated. In other words, the at least one processor 104 generates an interim output. The interim output may comprise the correlated data and / or recommendations discussed above, resulting from the detection and analysis of the simulated user characteristic event. The interim output may also comprise other data, such as performance data relating to the virtual protective suit and / or the simulated suit user, and / or parameters of the virtual protective suit and / or the simulated suit user across the simulation to this point. The interim output may be provided to a device of the suit user, such as user device 112 A, and / or to a device of a third party such as the facilitator of the simulation.

[0375] At step 2216, an interim input is received. That is, the at least one processor 104 receives an interim input. This may be, for example, an implementation of a recommendation made at step 2214, for instance the implementation of a recommended design change (such as material change or dimension change) of the virtual protective suit or a portion of same. A user may provide the interim input using a user interface (e.g. of the user device 112A).

[0376] At step 2218, the interim input is implemented and incorporated into the simulation. That is, the at least one processor 104 incorporates the interim input into the simulation. Thereafter, the simulation may continue on the basis of the updated data provided by the interim input, such as a change in design of the virtual protective suit. In some cases, the simulation may continue on the basis of both the original data and the data as updated by the interim input, and may generate two parallel sets of performance or parameter data for comparison purposes, such that the suit user or facilitator can gauge the effect of the change made by the interim input.

[0377] It will be understood interim inputs may also be made during the simulation which are not prompted by an interim output. For instance, the suit user or a facilitator may input a change in design parameters of the virtual protective suit, may input a command as to a change in environment, or may input a command for the simulated suit user to perform a task or activity that was not preprogrammed.

[0378] While interim steps 2214, 2216, 2218 are shown as occurring only once in Figure 22, and at a particular point in the sequence, it will be understood that these interim steps may occur multiple times and at different points during the simulation.

[0379] In step 2220, the core simulation step and the step of detecting and correlating a user characteristic event (similar to steps 2210, 2212) may be repeated. It will be understood that these steps may take place throughout the simulation and in a different order than that shown in Figure 22.

[0380] In step 2222, a protective suit output is generated. The at least one processor 104 generates the protective suit output. The protective suit output may be in the form of a report or other communication, and may be provided on a device of the suit user and / or facilitator. Similarly to the interim output, the protective suit output may comprise performance data relating to the virtual protective suit and / or the simulated suit user, and / or parameters of the virtual protective suit and / or the simulated suit user across the simulation. The protective suit output may also comprise records of any simulated user characteristic events that occurred during the simulation, along with correlated data pertaining to same. The protective suit output may also comprise recommendations as to changes in design of the virtual protective suit and / or conduct of the simulated suit user, whether related to the simulated user characteristic events or related to the collated performance data and parameters overall.

[0381] It will be understood that, in this and other embodiments, the performance of the protective suit (including virtual protective suit) and the suit user (including simulated suit user) may be assessed with regard to the respective other data types. That is to say, the performance of the protective suit may be determined with regard to any relevant performance thresholds based on the user characteristic input data and / or the suit exposure data; and the performance of the suit user may be determined with regard to any relevant performance thresholds based on the protective suit input data and / or the suit exposure data. In this way, the data can be analysed, and performance assessed, in a synergistic manner that takes into account the parameters of the other data types and the effect this might have on performance. For example, if the environmental conditions are difficult or arduous, it may be expected that the suit user will expend more energy, exert themselves more, and tire more quickly. Thus, the thresholds associated with the suit user’s performance in such a case (in terms of criteria such as energy expenditure, heart rate, respiratory rate, perspiration, body temperature) may be set differently than they would be for environmental conditions that involve easy and non-demanding tasks. Similarly, when assessing performance of the protective suit, different environmental conditions (temperature, light, wind, and such like) and suit user parameters may affect the applied thresholds. Varying thresholds based on the other data types when assessing performance reflects that what may be an acceptable parameter, result or value in one circumstance may not be in another circumstance; the circumstances affect what is to be considered acceptable performance of the protective suit and the suit user.

[0382] Some or all of the outputs and inputs described herein in relation to Figures 22 - 24 may be received, displayed, and / or inputted via one or more of the GUIs of the bioastronautics engine 109.

[0383] Method 2300 for Optimizing a Protective Suit

[0384] Figure 23 shows another process flow diagram of a method 2300. The method 2300 is a method for optimizing a protective suit. The at least one processor 104 may run the bioinformatics engine 109 in order to perform the method 2300. Thus, the at least one processor 104 may perform one or more steps of the method 2300.

[0385] Certain aspects of the method 2300 are similar to the method 2200 of Figure 22, and like features are denoted by like numerals and the description with respect to Figure 22 above may be taken to apply with respect to the corresponding features of Figure 23, with any necessary modifications or alterations that the skilled person may deem necessary.

[0386] The method 2300 of Figure 23 focuses on a scenario where the protective suit is a virtual protective suit being simulated, the exposure data is being simulated either virtually or physically, but the suit user (and thus at least some of the user characteristic input data) is making real movements and being physically monitored. That is, at least some of the user characteristic input data is associated to real movements performed by the suit user as part of the method 2300. As such, the method of 2300 may be thought of as a “hybrid” method in that it involves partially, simulated data, and partially, real or physical data.

[0387] Figure 23 is an exemplary flow diagram showing steps of the method 2300. It will be understood that the steps of the method 2300 may vary from what is shown, and / or some steps may recur.

[0388] At steps 2202, 2204 and 2206, data is inputted of, respectively, the following types: virtual protective suit input data; certain user characteristic input data; and simulated suit exposure input data. At least some of the data may be provided from an external source. For example, at least some of the data may be provided as a data file. This may be considered inputting the respective data. This is similar to the corresponding steps of the method 2200, except that at least some of the user characteristic input data now pertains to the individual (i.e. suit user) who is physically participating in the process, rather than a simulation of the individual. The nature of the certain user characteristic input data inputted at 2204 may again be “static” data that may be inputted prior to the simulation as it is not prone to changing as a result of exertion or changing conditions; for instance height, weight.

[0389] At step 2308, user characteristic input data is inputted, said user characteristic input data being measured using at least one sensor 23081 (also referred to herein as a “suit user sensor”) associated with the suit user. In other words, the at least one processor 104 receives user characteristic input data from the at least one sensor 23081. It will be understood that, while step 2308 is shown as occurring at a discrete position in the sequence, user characteristic input data may be inputted throughout the simulation.

[0390] The sensor 23081 is configured to detect the user characteristic input data. The sensor 23081 may be configured to detect a user characteristic event from the user characteristic input data it captures. The sensor 23081 may be configured to determine the portion of the body of the suit user with which the user characteristic event is associated.

[0391] The sensor 23081 may comprise a motion capture system comprising one or more cameras, such as those of the suit management sensor system 140. Alternatively, the suit management sensor system 140 may comprise the sensor 23081. The sensor 23081 comprising more than one camera may be advantageous as it may allow multiple two-dimensional images, or a three-dimensional image, of the suit user to be captured and analysed as part of the simulation, and / or may allow more accurate estimations of dimensions such as depth. It may also allow simultaneous sensing of the suit user’s body from different angles, potentially identifying situations where more than one portion of the body is being exerted at the same time, and / or identifying correlations between different parts of the body for certain motions or activities. Where the suit user is also wearing the protective suit, such as the embodiment of Figure 24, the presence of more than one camera may also be advantageous in gauging holistically the fit of the protective suit on the suit user, such as whether an ill-fitting region at one portion of the protective suit / user’s body has an effect at other regions.

[0392] The one or more cameras are configured to generate sensor data associated with a user characteristic event. That is, the one or more cameras generate sensor data associated with the user characteristic event. The sensor data may comprise an image, or a plurality of images, capturing stages of the user characteristic event. The one or more cameras may in particular be configured to detect a user characteristic event comprising motion. However, the one or more cameras may also detect other types of user characteristic event, such as muscle tensing and relaxation, muscle twitching, hot flushes, or marks caused by the protective suit being ill-fitting.

[0393] The one or more cameras are configured to generate sensor data associated with a suit characteristic event. That is, the one or more cameras generate sensor data associated with the suit characteristic event. The sensor data may comprise an image, or a plurality of images, capturing stages of the suit characteristic event.

[0394] The one or more cameras may be configured to determine a scale based on a feature in the image having a known dimension, such as a portion of the suit user’s body having a known dimension. Subsequently, based on the scale, certain user characteristic events such as motion may be quantified in terms of their size, distance or dimensions. Determining a scale may be a preliminary step that may be done prior to the simulation commencing.

[0395] The one or more cameras may be configured to identify at least some anatomical points or features of the suit user in the image, such that any user characteristic events during the simulation are correlatable to an anatomical point or feature of the suit user. Identification of anatomical features may be done by reference to a coordinate system superposed on the image of the body of the user, wherein a given anatomical feature is associated with a set of coordinates. Alternatively, identification of anatomical features may be by way of recognition of a given bodily or anatomical part in the image based on its characteristics, such as based on similarity with a plurality of images of that bodily or anatomical part in a database, for instance using artificial intelligence.

[0396] It will be appreciated that the at least one processor 104 may perform some or all of the processing functionality described with reference to the one or more cameras. For example, the at least one processor 104 may process sensor data generated by the one or more cameras to detect a user characteristic event, detect a suit characteristic event, determine a scale, based on a feature in the image and / or identify at least some anatomical points or features of the suit user.

[0397] Alternatively, or additionally, the sensor 23081 may comprise at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user. For instance, the at least one suit user sensor may comprise a motion sensor, a skin temperature sensor, a perspiration sensor, a respiratory rate sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a pulse oximeter. Each sensor may be connected to the suit user at a known position on the body of the suit user, such that any user characteristic events during the simulation are correlatable to a particular position on the body of the suit user depending on which sensor(s) has detected them. It is also within the scope of the invention for the suit user to be wearing the base layer of the protective suit, and for the base layer to provide the at least one suit user sensor via the biomarker sensor network of the base layer.

[0398] There may also be other sensors. For instance, the suit management sensor system 140 may comprise other sensors remote from but in the vicinity of the suit user, such as temperature sensors or humidity sensors.

[0399] As part of step 2308, or as a separate step, a check may be run to ensure that some or all of the relevant sensors are correctly connected to or associated with the suit user. The at least one processor 104 may perform the check. For instance, a check may be performed to ensure that any sensors configured to be attached to the suit user are in proper contact with the suit user and / or in the correct location on the body of the suit user; and / or that the suit user is in the correct location relative to the camera(s) or other sensor(s) that are remote from but in the vicinity of the suit user.

[0400] At 2310, the core simulation steps are performed. The at least one processor 104 performs the core simulation steps. These are similar to step 2210 of Figure 22. One difference is that determining the biomedical / physiological reaction of the suit user is based on the inputted user characteristic input data from the real suit user participating physically in the process (whether “static” data inputted prior to the simulation beginning, and / or data from the one or more sensors 23081 received during the simulation). It will be understood that, since the suit user is real but the virtual protective suit is being simulated, the inputted user characteristic input data may be adjusted to account for the effects of the virtual protective suit, such as weight, material properties, etc., which the suit user is not really experiencing. This may be done using artificial intelligence, for instance. In some examples, when adjusting the user characteristic input data in this manner, reference may be made to a database of past biomedical responses of the suit user (and / or a different database(s), and / or a formula(e)), similar to that discussed above with reference to Figure 22.

[0401] Another difference of step 2310 as compared to step 2210 is that, while the simulated exposure data may be simulated entirely virtually, it may also be at least in part simulated physically, such as by one or more environmental simulation devices. The one or more environmental simulation devices may be remote from the suit user but in their vicinity. For instance, environmental parameters such as temperature changes, humidity changes, and light changes may be physically simulated in this manner. Alternatively, or additionally, the one or more environmental simulation devices may be attached to the suit user. For instance, the suit user may have one or more haptic devices, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices, attached to them. These devices may be configured to emulate certain suit exposure data (and / or certain virtual protective suit input data), such as emulating a pressure or force being exerted on a region of the suit user’s body. At 2312, a user characteristic event is detected, and correlated to a portion of the body of the suit user. The at least one processor 104 detects the user characteristic event. This is achieved via the one or more sensors 23081, as described above. The identified portion of the body of the suit user is then correlated to a portion of the virtual protective suit. Where the one or more sensors 23081 is a camera(s), and has correlated the user characteristic event to an anatomical point or feature on the suit user defined by a set of coordinates, correlation to a portion of the virtual protective suit may be achieved by mapping the coordinates onto a corresponding coordinate system on the virtual protective suit; or potentially by identifying, on the virtual protective suit, the closest sensor on the virtual protective suit to the defined coordinates, and deeming that sensor to represent the location corresponding to the user characteristic event. Where the camera(s) has correlated the user characteristic event to a recognized anatomical point or feature, correlation to a portion of the virtual protective suit may be achieved by identifying a corresponding anatomical point or feature on the virtual protective suit. Where the one or more sensors 23081 are suit user sensors, each of which is disposed at a known location on the suit user’s body, correlation can be achieved by identifying a corresponding location on the virtual protective suit. It is also possible that, where the one or more sensors 23081 comprise both suit user sensors and a camera, one or more of the suit user sensor(s) may detect the user characteristic event and then the camera may be used to determine the location of that sensor(s) and hence the relevant portion of the body of the user, from which in tun the corresponding portion of the virtual protective suit is determined. It will be appreciated that at 2312, the at least one processor 104 may detect a suit characteristic event. The suit characteristic event may be as described herein.

[0402] At steps 2214, 2216, and 2218, respectively, an interim output is generated and outputted, an interim input is received, and the simulation is updated. This is similar to the corresponding steps of the method 2200 of Figure 22. One difference is that, since the suit user is moving their body in real time and may benefit from recommendations or instructions, the suit user may receive the interim output via not only their device but also, for instance, via a speaker system in their vicinity, or another communication means that may facilitate instruction to the suit user in real time. The suit user may also convey an interim output via a speaker system or other suitable communication means, in addition to via their device. The facilitator may also receive the interim output, and convey an interim input, via their device.

[0403] Another difference is that, since the one or more sensors 23081 may in particular detect and measure motion of the suit user, the recommendations may comprise advice on rectifying issues to do with motion. For instance, if there is a conflict between the suit user’s motion and the range of motion (or other characteristic) of the virtual protective suit, the recommendations may comprise advice as to modification of at least one virtual protective suit parameter in the relevant region of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the body of the user; and / or advice as to modification of the suit user’s motion, to improve conformity with the relevant region of the virtual protective suit. To provide this advice, a correlation may be performed between one or more parameters of a portion of the body of the user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time; and one or more virtual protective suit parameters in the relevant region of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass. The recommendations may also relate to the user’s motion as compared to preprogrammed parameters associated with that motion, such as for a prescribed activity or task.

[0404] At 2220, steps 2310 and 3212, relating to the core simulation and detecting and correlating a characteristic event, are repeated (although these steps may occur multiple times and at various points in the simulation).

[0405] At 2222, the protective suit output is generated.

[0406] It will be understood that the method 2300 may comprise inputs and outputs being received and conveyed via different devices or media from different parties or sources:

[0407] The initial data 2202, 2204, 2206 may be inputted via a suitable device by the suit user or facilitator, and / or may be drawn from a preexisting database or storage;

[0408] In-use user characteristic input data may be inputted via the sensor(s) 23081, such as the camera(s) and / or the sensor(s) connected to the suit user;

[0409] The interim output may be displayed or communicated to the suit user or facilitator, such as on a device or via audio;

[0410] The interim input may be received from the suit user or facilitator, such as via a device or orally; The protective suit output may be sent to a device of the suit user and / or facilitator, may be retrievable from a storage, or may be communicated by other means.

[0411] Method 2400 for Optimizing a Protective Suit

[0412] Figure 24 shows another process flow diagram of a method 2400. The method 2400 is a method for optimizing a protective suit. The at least one processor 104 may run the bioinformatics engine 109 in order to perform the method 2300. Thus, the at least one processor 104 may perform one or more steps of the method 2400.

[0413] Certain aspects of the method 2400 are similar to the method 2200 of Figure 22 and / or the method 2300 of Figure 23, and like features are denoted by like numerals and the description with respect to Figures 22 and 23 above may be taken to apply with respect to the corresponding features of Figure 24, with any necessary modifications or alterations that the skilled person may deem necessary.

[0414] The method 2400 of Figure 24 focuses on a scenario where the suit user (and thus at least some of the user characteristic input data) is making real movements and being physically monitored; and furthermore the suit user is wearing the protective suit. The exposure data may be either real or simulated (whether virtually and / or physically), depending on the scenario. That is, at least some of the user characteristic input data is associated to real movements performed by the suit user as part of the method 2400. In one scenario the suit user is really in the environment in question, such as in space; in this case the exposure data may be considered real. In another environment the suit user, wearing the protective suit, is not in the real environment, but rather the environment is being simulated, either virtually by input data corresponding to the desired environmental characteristics and / or via one or more devices for simulating environmental conditions, with which the user is associated.

[0415] Figure 24 is an exemplary flow diagram showing optional steps of the method 2400. It will be understood that the steps of the method 2400 may vary from what is shown, and / or some steps may recur.

[0416] At steps 2202, 2204 and 2206, data is inputted of, respectively, the following types: protective suit input data; certain user characteristic input data; and suit exposure input data. At least some of the data may be provided from an external source. For example, at least some of the data may be provided as a data file. This may be considered inputting the respective data. This may be similar to the methods of Figures 22 and 23, in that relevant data may be entered at this preliminary stage; for instance “static” user characteristic input data, and known materials and other “static” parameters of the protective suit. Where the environment is a real environment, at least some environmental characteristics may be inputted at this preliminary stage, in particular “static” characteristics such as gravity, topography or distance of the environment from Earth or from another planet. Where the environment is a simulated environment, simulated suit exposure input data may be entered.

[0417] At steps 2408, 2409, user characteristic input data and protective suit configuration input data (that is to say, protective suit input data) (respectively) are inputted. The user characteristic input data may be obtained and inputted using at least one sensor 23081. The protective suit configuration input data (that is to say, protective suit input data) may be measured using at least one sensor of the protective suit.

[0418] Similarly to Figure 23, the at least one user characteristic sensor 23081 may comprise a motion capture system comprising at least one camera; and / or may comprise one or more sensors connected to the suit user. The suit management sensor system 140 may comprise the sensor 23081. The one or more sensors connected to the suit user may be provided by the biomarker sensor network disposed on the base layer 24083 of the protective suit, which the user is wearing.

[0419] The at least one sensor of the protective suit may be provided by the biomechanical sensor network disposed on the outer layer 24082 of the protective suit. The biomechanical sensor network may also be configured to detect at least some exposure data as to environmental conditions.

[0420] The various sensors may operate synergistically, to detect data pertaining to their primary purpose but also detect data pertaining to other data types or parameters. For instance, the at least one camera of the user characteristic sensor 23081 may also detect motion of the protective suit; and the biomarker sensor network of the base layer 24083 (and / or other sensors connected to the suit user) may also detect data informative of protective suit parameters. Similarly, the outer layer 24082 of the protective suit may detect data, such as motion data, that is informative of motion of the suit user.

[0421] At steps 2408, 2409, suit exposure input data may also be obtained and inputted, if the environmental conditions are real as opposed to simulated.

[0422] It will be understood that, while steps 2408, 2409 are shown as occurring at a discrete position in the sequence, user characteristic input data and protective suit configuration input data (that is to say, protective suit input data) (and, where relevant, also suit exposure data) may be obtained and inputted throughout the simulation.

[0423] At step 2211, the simulation begins. At step 2413, the core simulation is performed based on the data inputted at 2202, 2204, 2206, 2408 and 2409), involving simulating and / or determining the environmental conditions, and determining parameters and performance of each of the suit user and the protective suit in view of the environmental conditions and the other data type (respectively, protective suit parameters and user characteristic parameters).

[0424] At step 2412, a user characteristic event is detected, correlated to a portion of the body of the suit user, and in turn correlated to a portion of the protective suit. In some embodiments, at 2412, a suit characteristic event is detected. Description herein with respect to the user characteristic event, and the functionality of the at least one processor 104 in response to it, may also be applicable to a suit characteristic event.

[0425] The user characteristic event is detected and correlated to a portion of the body of the suit user using the one or more user characteristic sensors. For instance, where the sensor comprises one or more sensors connected to the body of the suit user, each sensor may be on a predetermined location of the body of the suit user. Where the sensor comprises a camera(s), the camera(s) may detect the user characteristic event and determine the portion of the body of the suit user associated with the user characteristic event using one of the techniques described above with reference to Figure 23. Alternatively, or additionally, the user characteristic event may be detected using the at least one sensor of the protective suit (in addition to or instead of the sensor(s) connected to the body of the user). For example, motion of a limb of the suit user may be detected as motion of the protective suit, and correlated back to the limb of the suit user.

[0426] The user characteristic event at the identified portion of the body of the suit user may then be correlated to a portion of the protective suit. For example, the identified portion of the body may be cross-referenced or correlated to the protective suit to identify a corresponding portion of the protective suit, such as by reference to predefined anatomical features and / or by reference to coordinates, or simply by identifying the portion of the protective suit that overlaps (such as in the camera image) with the identified portion of the body of the suit user (since the suit user is inside the suit). Where the suit user is wearing the base layer and the outer layer, the sensors of the respective layers may be in a predetermined relationship to one another, such that, depending on which sensor(s) of the base layer identified the user characteristic event, the most proximal corresponding sensor(s) on the outer layer may be identified and the user characteristic event may be deemed to be associated with that portion of the protective suit. Alternatively, where the sensors of the respective layers are not in a predetermined relationship to one another, the most proximal sensor(s) on the outer layer corresponding to the sensor(s) on the base layer that detected the user characteristic event may be determined by reference to the strength of the signal emitted by the relevant sensor(s) on the base layer: the sensors on the outer layer that perceive the signal most strongly may be deemed to be located at the portion of the protective suit with which the user characteristic event is associated. As another example, a motion (or other protective suit event) of the protective suit may be detected that corresponds to the detected user characteristic event. It may be deemed that the two events are linked, and accordingly the user characteristic event may be correlated to the portion of the protective suit where the motion (or other protective suit event) was detected.

[0427] Steps 2214, 2216, 2218 proceed similarly to Figures 22 and 23. A difference is that, in addition to receiving the interim output and / or inputting the interim input via a device or a speaker, the suit user may also, if wearing the helmet of the protective suit, receive it via the display of the helmet.

[0428] In the embodiment of Figure 24 and also, where relevant, the embodiments of Figures 22 and 23, the interim input and / or output may comprise an automatic adjustment, and not require any action from the suit user or facilitator. For instance, where the base layer 24082 of the protective suit comprises means for temperature, atmosphere and / or humidity regulation, during the analysis it may be established that one or more of these parameters require adjustment, and this may be achieved in the form of an automatic protective suit control signal(s).

[0429] Steps 2220 and 2222 proceed similarly to Figures 22 and 23, again with the difference that the protective suit output may additionally or alternatively be displayed on the display of the helmet of the protective suit, if worn by the suit user. As with method 2300, it will be understood that the method 2400 may comprise inputs and outputs being received and conveyed via different devices or media from different parties or sources:

[0430] The initial data 2202, 2204, 2206 may be inputted via a suitable device by the suit user or facilitator, and / or may be drawn from a preexisting database or storage;

[0431] In-use user characteristic input data may be obtained by and inputted (transmitted) via the sensor(s) 23081, such as the camera(s) and / or the sensor(s) connected to the suit user;

[0432] In-use suit exposure data (environmental data) may be inputted via at least one sensor(s) associated with, such as in the vicinity of or connected to, the suit user and / or the protective suit; and / or may be inputted via the one or more devices for simulating environmental conditions that are in the vicinity of the suit user;

[0433] The interim output may be displayed or communicated to the suit user or facilitator, such as on a device or via audio. The interim output may also be displayed to the suit user on, for example, the display of the helmet of the protective suit.

[0434] The interim input may be received from the suit user or facilitator, via a device or for example orally. For example, the suit user may input a command via the display or a speaker of the helmet of the protective suit;

[0435] The protective suit output may be sent to a device of the suit user and / or facilitator, may be retrievable from a storage, or may be communicated by other means.

[0436] Alternative Embodiments

[0437] It will be appreciated that one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented using an alternative methodology. For example, the protective suit management system 102 of the present disclosure has been described to host a web server that is accessible by users via one or more user devices 112A-N. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the user of the system 100 may install an application on the respective user device 112A-N, through which equivalent functionality is achieved. That is, the user may install an application in the user device memory 118A, and run the application to achieve some or all of the described functionality locally on their user device 112A-N. Therefore, in some embodiments, the functionality described herein with respect to the protective suit management system 102 and or the bioastronautics engine 109 may be performed, at least in part, by the user device 112A-N.

[0438] There may be one or more other “hybrid” embodiments of the method, in addition to those described above with reference to Figures 23 and 24. For instance, in some examples the protective suit may be real (including the base layer and / or the outer layer, and the biomarker sensor network and biomechanical sensor network associated therewith), but the suit user and the environment may be simulated (whether virtually and / or physically). For instance, the suit may be placed on a mannequin having known dimensions, which may approximate the dimensions / proportions of the suit user. The mannequin may be or associated with sensors, such as one or more cameras of the kind described above, as well as one or more devices for simulating environmental conditions. In use, the mannequin may be manipulated (or animated) into various bodily positions to analyse the response of the protective suit. User characteristic input data pertaining to the simulated suit user may be inputted as described above with reference to Figure 22. The environment may in part be physically simulated via the one or more devices for simulating environmental conditions (for example heat, humidity, light). Other environmental parameters may be virtually simulated by inputted data.

[0439] Another example may be a case where the suit user uses a real protective suit in a real environment, but a simulation is run, based on the obtained data, to model the performance of a slightly modified protective suit for the same suit user and in the same environment. In this case, the modified protective suit may be said to be at least partly simulated. The suit user and the environmental conditions may be said to be real, although they may also be at least partly simulated if the protective suit simulation also simulates the suit user’s biomedical or physiological response, in turn, to the modified protective suit.

[0440] Another example may be a case where the suit user uses a real protective suit in a real environment, but a simulation is subsequently run, based on the obtained data, to model the performance of the same modified protective suit in the same environment but for a different suit user.

[0441] These and any other “hybrid” embodiments also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0442] In respect of the embodiments of Figures 22, 23 and 24, the order, sequence, frequency, occurrence, etc. of the steps shown and described may be varied. One or more of the steps may be omitted.

[0443] In the claims that follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the disclosure.

[0444] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method comprising generating a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit, the protective suit being configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit, the protective suit output being generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective suit output comprises at least one of: a protective suit control signal that is configured to control one or more component of the protective suit; and a performance report indicating a performance of the protective suit.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the protective suit configuration input data comprises at least one of: virtual protective suit input data, the virtual protective suit input data being associated with virtual protective suit model data associated with a virtual protective suit, being a virtual representation of the protective suit; protective suit input data, the protective suit input data being associated with the protective suit; and suit exposure input data, the suit exposure input data being associated with at least one environmental condition; and the user characteristic input data is associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of a suit user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the protective suit output is configured to change at least some of the virtual protective suit input data, the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and / or the user characteristic input data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the virtual protective suit model data comprises a three-dimensional model of the virtual protective suit.

6. The method of any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising determining one or more parts of the protective suit input data, the suit exposure input data and the user characteristic input data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining one or more parts of the protective suit input data comprises recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

8. The method of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein determining one or more parts of the suit exposure input data comprises recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

9. The method of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein determining one or more parts of the suit exposure input data comprises recording a measurement from one or more environmental sensors.

10. The method of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data comprises recording a measurement from a user characteristic sensor.

11. The method of any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data comprises recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit.

12. The method of any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein determining one or more parts of the user characteristic input data comprises recording a measurement from a motion capture system.

13. The method of any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the virtual protective suit input data comprises values of a plurality of virtual protective suit parameters, the value of each virtual protective suit parameter being indicative of a respective characteristic of the virtual protective suit; wherein the protective suit input data comprises a plurality of protective suit parameters, a value of each protective suit parameter being indicative of a respective characteristic of the protective suit; and wherein the user characteristic input data comprises a plurality of biomedical parameters of the suit user, a value of each biomedical parameter being indicative of a respective biomedical characteristic of the suit user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the virtual protective suit parameters is associated with at least one of: a dimension of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a material of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a material property of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a mass of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; a movement profile of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; an operating range of motion of a virtual component of the virtual protective suit; and a virtual sensor of the virtual protective suit; wherein one or more of the protective suit parameters is associated with at least one of: a dimension of a component of the protective suit; a material of a component of the protective suit; a material property of a component of the protective suit;a mass of a component of the protective suit; a movement profile of a component of the protective suit; an operating range of motion of a component of the protective suit; and a sensor of the protective suit.

15. The method of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the biomedical parameters of the suit user comprise at least one of: a dimension parameter, a value of the dimension parameter being indicative of a dimension of a part of the suit user; a range of motion parameter, a value of the range of motion parameter being indicative of a range of motion of a part of the suit user; a musculoskeletal parameter, a value of the musculoskeletal parameter being indicative of a musculoskeletal characteristic of the suit user; a vital sign parameter, a value of the vital sign parameter being indicative of a vital sign of the suit user; a nervous system parameter, a value of the nervous system parameter being indicative of a nervous system characteristic of the suit user; a cardiovascular parameter, a value of the cardiovascular parameter being indicative of a cardiovascular characteristic of the suit user; a respiratory parameter, a value of the respiratory parameter being indicative of a respiratory characteristic of the suit user; a blood parameter, a value of the blood parameter being indicative of a blood characteristic of the suit user; an immunity parameter, a value of the immunity parameter being indicative of an immunity of the suit user; an inflammation parameter, a value of the inflammation parameter being indicative of an inflammation of a part of the suit user; a gastrointestinal parameter, a value of the gastrointestinal parameter being indicative of a gastrointestinal state of the suit user; a liver parameter, a value of the liver value parameter being indicative of a liver characteristic of the suit user; a renal parameter, a value of the renal parameter being indicative of a renal characteristic of the suit user; an endocrine parameter, a value of the endocrine parameter being indicative of a hormone level of the suit user; and a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) parameter, a value of the deoxyribonucleic acid parameter being indicative of a characteristic of the suit user’s DNA.

16. The method of any one of claims 3 to 15, wherein the environmental condition comprises at least one of: a simulated acceleration; a simulated velocity; a simulated force; a simulated temperature; a simulated pressure; an acceleration; a velocity; a force; a temperature; a pressure.

17. The method of claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 16, when dependent on claim 3, further comprising performing a virtual protective suit simulation to simulate the virtual protective suit, wherein the virtual protective suit input data, suit exposure input data and user characteristic input data are inputs of the virtual protective suit simulation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the protective suit output is generated in response to an outcome of the virtual protective suit simulation.

19. The method of claim 18, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the performance report indicates a performance of the virtual protective suit in the virtual protective suit simulation.

20. The method of any one of claims 3 to 19, wherein the protective suit configuration input data comprises at least two data types, being at least two of: virtual protective suit input data, protective suit input data, and suit exposure input data; wherein the method comprises correlating the at least two data types, or data associated with a first of the at least two data types and data associated with a second of the at least two data types, to one another.

21. The method of claim 20 when dependent on claim 10, wherein the input data comprises virtual protective suit input data, suit exposure input data, and user characteristic input data, at least some of the user characteristic input data being measured using the user characteristic sensor, the method comprising: detecting a user characteristic event from the user characteristic input data measured by the user characteristic sensor; determining a portion of a body of the suit user, being the user of the virtual protective suit, withwhich the user characteristic event is associated; and correlating the portion of the body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

22. The method of claim 21, when further dependent on claim 13, further comprising retrieving, from the virtual protective suit input data, at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

23. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the protective suit output comprises an indication of correlation between the portion of the body of the suit user and the portion of the virtual protective suit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the protective suit output further comprises an indication of the correlation to the user characteristic event.

25. The method of claim 23 or claim 24, when dependent on claim 22, wherein the protective suit output further comprises the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the protective suit output further comprises at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the protective suit output comprises a suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the user characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

28. The method of any one of claims 23 to 27, when dependent on claim 17, wherein the protective suit output is generated at the end of the virtual protective suit simulation.

29. The method of any one of claims 23 to 27, when dependent on claim 17, wherein the protective suit output is generated during the virtual protective suit simulation when the user characteristic event is detected, and is communicated to at least one of: the suit user; a facilitator.

30. The method of any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein the user characteristic sensor comprises one or more sensors, and wherein the user characteristic sensor comprises at least one of: a motion capture system comprising a camera; at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user, and the method comprises determining the portion of the body of the suit user with which the user characteristic event is associated.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the user characteristic sensor comprises at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user, wherein the user characteristic sensor is connected to the suit user at a known position on the body of the suit user, said known position being correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the user characteristic sensor comprises a motion capture system comprising a camera, the method comprising identifying, in an image of the suit user, at least some anatomical points or features of the suit user, such that the user characteristic event is correlatable to an anatomical point or feature of the suit user, the anatomical point or feature of the suit user being correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: determining a scale for the image based on a feature in the image of the suit user having a known dimension; and identifying one or more dimensions associated with the user characteristic event, based on the scale.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the user characteristic event is motion of a portion of the body of the suit user, and the method comprises identifying the dimensions associated with the motion.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the protective suit output comprises at least one of: at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the body of the suit user; at least one suggestion for modification of the motion of the portion of the body of the suit user, to improve conformity with the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

36. The method of claim 35, comprising correlating: one or more parameters of the portion of the body of the suit user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time, and one or more virtual protective suit parameters of the portion of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass.

37. The method of any one of claims 32 to 36, further comprising assigning coordinates to the at least some identified anatomical points or features of the body of the suit user, such that the coordinates of theanatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event are correlatable to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event are correlatable to corresponding coordinates of the virtual protective suit.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event are correlatable to an identified sensor of a plurality of sensors on the virtual protective suit, the identified sensor being the sensor most closely corresponding to the coordinates of the anatomical point or feature correlated to the user characteristic event.

40. The method of claim 20, when dependent on claim 17, wherein the at least two data types comprise at least two of: virtual protective suit input data; simulated suit exposure input data; simulated user characteristic input data, each of the data types being inputted as data for the virtual protective suit simulation, the method comprising: detecting a simulated user characteristic event from the simulated user characteristic input data; determining a portion of a simulated body of the suit user with which the simulated user characteristic event is associated; and correlating the portion of the simulated body of the suit user to a portion of the virtual protective suit.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising retrieving, from the virtual protective suit input data, at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

42. The method of claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the protective suit output comprises an indication of correlation between the portion of the simulated body of the user and the portion of the virtual protective suit.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the protective suit output further comprises an indication of the correlation to the simulated user characteristic event.

44. The method of claim 42 or claim 43, when dependent on claim 41, wherein the protective suit output further comprises the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

45. The method of any one of claims 42 to 44, when dependent on claim 41, wherein the protective suit output further comprises at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter.

46. The method of claim 42, when dependent on claim 41, wherein the protective suit output comprises at least one suggestion for modifying the at least one simulated biomedical characteristic associated with the simulated user characteristic event to conform to the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

47. The method of any one of claims 42 to 46, wherein the protective suit output is generated at the end of the virtual protective suit simulation.

48. The method of any one of claims 42 to 46, wherein the protective suit output is generated during the virtual protective suit simulation when the simulated user characteristic event is detected.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the simulated user characteristic event is motion of a portion of the simulated body of the user, the motion having associated with it at least one motion dimension.

50. The method of claim 49 when dependent on claim 45 or 46, wherein the protective suit output comprises at least one of: at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit, to improve conformity with the motion of the portion of the simulated body of the user; at least one suggestion for modification of the motion of the portion of the simulated body of the user, to improve conformity with the at least one virtual protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the virtual protective suit.

51. The method of claim 50, comprising correlating: one or more parameters of the portion of the simulated body of the user, being one or more of: a range of motion, a dimension of the motion, a trend of the motion across time, and one or more virtual protective suit parameters of the portion of the virtual protective suit, being one or more of: a dimension, an operating range of motion, a material, a material property, a mass.

52. The method of any one of claims 40 to 51, wherein at least some of the simulated user characteristic input data is inputted as data for the virtual protective suit simulation by being derived from a user characteristic database, the user characteristic database comprising data relating to a plurality of past suit users having a plurality of biomedical characteristics, using protective suits having a plurality ofprotective suit parameters, and using the protective suits in a plurality of environmental conditions.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein, to obtain the user characteristic input data, data from the user characteristic database is selected that most closely corresponds to biomedical characteristics of the suit user, the virtual protective suit input data for the virtual protective suit used in the virtual protective suit simulation, and / or the simulated exposure data for the virtual protective suit simulation.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the user characteristic database is used to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response to the virtual protective suit and the simulated exposure data during the virtual protective suit simulation.

55. The method of any one of claims 40 to 51, wherein at least some of the simulated user characteristic input data is inputted as data for the virtual protective suit simulation by being derived from a database of past biomedical responses of the suit user.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the database of past biomedical responses of the suit user comprises data obtained from the suit user when the suit user was performing at least one task or activity.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the database of past biomedical responses of the suit user is used to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response to the virtual protective suit and the simulated exposure data during the virtual protective suit simulation.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein data from the database of past biomedical responses of the suit user is adjusted to account for parameters of the virtual protective suit and parameters of the simulated exposure data, to approximate the suit user’s biomedical response during the virtual protective suit simulation.

59. The method of claim 10 or any one of claims 11 to 58 when dependent on claim 10, wherein at least some of the user characteristic input data is measured using the user characteristic sensor, and wherein at least some of the protective suit input data that is measured is measured using the one or more sensors of the protective suit.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the user characteristic sensor comprises at least one of: a motion capture system comprising a camera; at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein:the user characteristic sensor comprises the motion capture system comprising the camera, and the method further comprises detecting a user characteristic event; and determining a portion of a body of the user with which the user characteristic event is associated, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera, wherein the portion of the body of the user is correlated to a portion of the protective suit.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit is by one of: detecting a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, based at least in part on sensor data generated by the camera, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event; detecting, using the one or more sensors of the protective suit, a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the user characteristic sensor comprises at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user, the at least one suit user sensor being configured to detect a user characteristic event and determine and / or indicate a portion of a body of the user with which the user characteristic event is associated, wherein the portion of the body of the user is correlated to a portion of the protective suit.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the correlation of the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit is by one of: detecting, using the one or more sensors of the protective suit, a protective suit event corresponding to the user characteristic event, and determining the portion of the protective suit involved in the protective suit event; detecting a sensor of the one or more sensors of the protective suit that is most proximal to the at least one suit user sensor connected to the suit user that has detected the user characteristic event, and determining that the user characteristic event has occurred at the portion of the protective suit where said most proximal sensor is located.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein the user characteristic sensor is provided at least in part by the one or more sensors of the protective suit, wherein the one or more sensors of the protective suit are configured to detect a protective suit event at a portion of the protective suit, the portion of the protective suit is correlated to a portion of the body of the user, and a user characteristic event is approximated based on the protective suit event.

66. The method of any one of claims 59 to 65, wherein the protective suit output comprises one or more of: an indication of correlation between the portion of the body of the user and the portion of the protective suit; an indication of the correlation to the user characteristic event; an indication of the correlation to the protective suit event; at least one protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the protective suit; at least one suggestion for modification of the at least one protective suit parameter; at least one suggestion for modifying the at least one biomedical characteristic associated with the user characteristic event to conform to the at least one protective suit parameter associated with the portion of the protective suit.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the protective suit output is generated: at the end of an analysis of the protective suit; or during the analysis when the user characteristic event or the protective suit event is detected, and is communicated to at least one of: the suit user; a facilitator.

68. The method of any one of claims 59 to 67, wherein the at least two data types further comprise suit exposure input data.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the suit exposure input data comprises environmental condition data experienced by the protective suit.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the suit exposure input data comprises simulated environmental condition data.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein one or more environmental simulation devices are located in the vicinity of the suit user and the protective suit, and / or are attached to at least one of: the suit user; the protective suit, the environmental simulation devices configured to simulate or emulate the action of at least one environmental condition on the suit user or the protective suit.

72. The method of claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 71 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the performance report comprises an indication of at least one of: performance of the protective suit or the virtual protective suit; performance of the suit user, said performance of the protective suit or the virtual protective suit being determined based on anyrelevant performance thresholds based on the user characteristic input data and / or the suit exposure data; said performance of the suit user being determined based on any relevant performance thresholds based on the protective suit input data or the virtual protective suit input data and / or the suit exposure data.

73. The method of claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 72, when dependent on claim 3, wherein, where at least one of the protective suit input data, suit exposure input data, or user characteristic input data is a virtual or simulated input, at least one parameter thereof is adjustable via an interim input.

74. The method of claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 72, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the suit exposure input data comprises at least one activity or task performable by the suit user, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the at least one activity or task, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions, is one of: preprogrammed; able to be inputted dynamically by the suit user or facilitator; a combination of preprogrammed and able to be inputted dynamically.

76. The method of claim 74 or claim 75, wherein the at least one activity or task, and / or one or more environmental sub-conditions, has associated with it at least one motion performable by the suit user.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein feedback is provided, the feedback based on: at least one parameter associated with the at least one motion performable by the suit user during the at least one activity or task; and / or at least one protective suit parameter; and at least one parameter associated with the motion of the suit user when performing the task.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the feedback is providable via at least one of: a display viewable by the suit user; an audio communication audible by the suit user.

79. A system comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to: generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit, the protective suit being configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit,the protective suit output being generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data.

80. The system of claim 79, the system being configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 78.

81. A system comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to: generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit, said protective suit output being generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data, said protective suit configuration input data comprising suit exposure input data, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as an exposure input, said suit exposure input data, said suit exposure input data comprising a suit exposure profile comprising a plurality of environmental conditions, said plurality of environmental conditions comprising at least one of: an acceleration; a velocity; a force; a temperature; a pressure; the program instructions being further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a type indicator input, an indication of whether the suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the plurality of environmental conditions further comprise at least one activity, task and / or motion to be performed by the suit user while wearing the protective suit.

83. The system of claim 81 or claim 82, wherein the exposure input comprises a selection of a first preprogrammed suit exposure profile of a plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles, each of the plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profdes comprising a preprogrammed plurality ofenvironmental conditions.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the plurality of preprogrammed suit exposure profiles each relate to a respective preprogrammed environment.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the respective preprogrammed environments comprise different operating environments, being one or more of: a first planet; a second planet, different from the first planet; water; land; air; space.

86. The system of claim 81 or claim 82, wherein the exposure input comprises an input of a suit exposure profile comprising a plurality of customized environmental conditions.

87. The system of any one of claims 83 to 85, wherein the exposure input comprises the first preprogrammed suit exposure profile wherein at least one of the preprogrammed plurality of environmental conditions has been customized.

88. The system of any one of claims 83 to 85, wherein the exposure input comprises the first preprogrammed suit exposure profile and further comprises an input comprising at least one further customized environmental condition.

89. The system of any one of claims 81 to 88, wherein said exposure input and said type indicator input are received via one or more graphical user interface elements associated with the system, said one or more graphical user interface elements being display able on a user interface of a user device.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said one or more graphical user interface elements comprise a plurality of graphical user interface elements, wherein a first graphical user interface element and a second graphical user interface element of the plurality of graphical user interface elements are in a hierarchical relationship, wherein the first graphical user interface element is configured to receive a first input being a first one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions, wherein the second graphical user interface is displayed based on the first input and is configured to receive a second input being a second one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein content of the second graphical user interface changes depending on the first input.

92. The system of claim 90 or claim 91 when dependent on claim 82 and further dependent on claim 85, wherein the first exposure input relates to the operating environment and the second exposure input relates to at least one activity, task and / or motion to be performed by the suit user while wearing the protective suit in the operating environment.

93. The system of any one of claims 81 to 92, wherein, while the protective suit is being exposed to the real environment or the simulated environment in use, at least one of said plurality of environmental conditions, or a value of a parameter of same, is dynamically alterable via an interim input.

94. The system of any one of claims 81 to 92, wherein the exposure input data comprises an indication that at least one of said plurality of environmental conditions, or a value of a parameter of same, is to alter while the protective suit is being exposed to the real environment or the simulated environment in use.

95. A system comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to: generate a first protective suit output comprising first protective suit output data relating to a first protective suit configured to protect a first suit user wearing the first protective suit from a first environment external of the first protective suit, generate a second protective suit output comprising second protective suit output data relating to a second protective suit configured to protect a second suit user wearing the second protective suit from a second environment external of the second protective suit, said first protective suit output being generated based at least in part on first protective suit configuration input data and first user characteristic input data, said first protective suit configuration input data comprising first suit exposure input data, said second protective suit output being generated based at least in part on second protective suit configuration input data and second user characteristic input data, said second protective suit configuration input data comprising second suit exposure input data, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a first exposure input, said first suit exposure input data, said first suit exposure input data comprising a first suit exposure profile comprising a first plurality of environmental conditions, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a secondexposure input, said second suit exposure input data, said second suit exposure input data comprising a second suit exposure profde comprising a second plurality of environmental conditions, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a first type indicator input, an indication of whether the first suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the first protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a second type indicator input, an indication of whether the second suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the second protective suit is to be exposed, or simulated suit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein said first suit exposure input data is different from said second suit exposure input data.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein at least one of said first plurality of environmental conditions is different from at least one of said second plurality of environmental conditions98. The system of claim 96, wherein a value of a parameter associated with at least one of said first plurality of environmental conditions is different from a value of a parameter associated with at least one of said second plurality of environmental conditions99. The system of claim 96, wherein said first and second plurality of environmental conditions comprise a location, wherein a first location comprised in the first suit exposure input data is different from a second location comprised in the second suit exposure input data.

100. The system of any one of claims to 95 to 99, wherein said first type indicator input is different from said second type indicator input.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein said first suit exposure input data and said second suit exposure input data are the same and said first type indicator input is different from said second type indicator input.

102. The system of any one of claims 95 to 101, wherein said first protective suit configuration input data further comprises first protective suit input data comprising a first plurality of protective suit parameters associated with said first protective suit and said second protective suit configuration input data further comprises second protective suit input data comprising a second plurality of protective suitparameters associated with said second protective suit.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein said first protective suit input data is different from said second protective suit input data.

104. The system of claim 102, wherein the first protective suit output comprises diagnostic data indicating a required change to a specific one of said first plurality of protective suit parameters, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a protective suit control signal implementing said required change in respect of a corresponding specific one of said second plurality of protective suit parameters.

105. The system of any one of claims 95 to 104, wherein the system is configured to receive said first suit exposure input data and said second suit exposure input data concurrently.

106. The system of any one of claims 95 to 105, wherein the system is configured to generate said first protective suit output and said second protective suit output concurrently.

107. A system comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to: generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit, said protective suit output being generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data that is associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of the suit user, said protective suit configuration input data comprising: protective suit input data associated with a protective suit; and suit exposure input data associated with at least one environmental condition; the program instructions being further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a first type indicator input, an indication of whether the protective suit input data is real protective suit input data corresponding to a real protective suit, or simulated protective suit input data corresponding to a simulated protective suit, the program instructions being further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a second type indicator input, an indication of whether the suit exposure input data is real suit exposure input data corresponding to a real environment to which the protective suit is to be exposed, or simulatedsuit exposure input data corresponding to a simulated environment, the program instructions being further configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, as a third type indicator input, an indication of whether the user characteristic input data is real user characteristic input data detected by a user characteristic sensor associated with the suit user in use, or simulated user characteristic input data corresponding to at least one simulated biomedical characteristic of the user.

108. A system comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing program instructions accessible by the at least one processor, the program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to: generate a protective suit output comprising protective suit output data relating to a protective suit configured to protect a suit user wearing the protective suit from an environment external of the protective suit, said protective suit output being generated based at least in part on protective suit configuration input data and user characteristic input data that is associated with at least one biomedical characteristic of the suit user, said protective suit configuration input data comprising: protective suit input data associated with the protective suit, and suit exposure input data associated with at least one environmental condition; wherein at least some of said protective suit input data is obtained by recording a measurement from one or more sensors of the protective suit, wherein at least some of said user characteristic input data is obtained by recording a measurement from at least one of: a motion capture system; or a suit user sensor connected to the suit user, wherein said user characteristic input data comprises a motion parameter, being a range of motion or a dimension of motion of a motion event of a portion of the suit user, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to: identify the portion of the suit user to which the motion event relates; correlate said portion of the suit user to a corresponding portion of the protective suit; from the protective suit input data, identify a range of motion of said corresponding portion of the protective suit; and identify whether the motion parameter of the motion event of the suit user is within the range of motion of said corresponding portion of the protective suit.

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