Adaptive Resistance Exoskeleton for Astronaut Muscle Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Astronauts in weightless environments face challenges with sensorimotor adaptation, leading to performance degradation in critical tasks, and long-term health issues like muscle atrophy due to the lack of gravitational cues and resistance during physical activities.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system with actuators, such as gyroscopes, attached to the limbs to provide adaptive resistance, simulating gravitational forces and guiding proper movements, which can be customized to assist in orientation and motion control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If astronauts perform physical activities in weightless environment, then muscle strength and bone mass are maintained, but time-consuming exercise regimens are required
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton system automatically provides resistance forces during normal movement activities without requiring dedicated exercise sessions. The system uses sensors to detect movement and actuators to provide adaptive resistance, allowing astronauts to maintain muscle strength during routine tasks rather than requiring separate exercise regimens.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous muscle engagement during all movement activities rather than intermittent exercise sessions. By providing resistance during normal locomotion and task performance, the system maintains muscle strength continuously throughout the day, replacing time-limited exercise regimens with ongoing beneficial resistance.
2Strength
If compression suits are worn to counteract physiological de-conditioning, then muscle strength loss is reduced, but the suits are not responsive to wearer's motions and provide no directional movement guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton system incorporates sensors that detect the wearer's movement intentions and provide real-time feedback through adaptive resistance forces. The system responds to actual motion patterns and provides directional guidance, making it dynamically adaptable to the wearer's needs rather than providing static compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static compression to dynamic resistance that adapts to the wearer's movements. The actuators adjust resistance forces in real-time based on detected motion, providing responsive and versatile support that changes with the wearer's activity level and direction.
3Strength
If powered exoskeletons are used to augment strength and endurance, then human strength is improved, but substantial energy consumption is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides partial resistance rather than full power augmentation, using just enough force to maintain muscle strength during normal activities. This partial action approach achieves health benefits without the substantial energy consumption of full powered exoskeletons designed for strength augmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton provides intermittent resistance forces synchronized with the natural movement cycle, applying force only when needed to maintain muscle engagement. This periodic action reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous power delivery required by traditional powered exoskeletons.
4Ease of operation
If actuators are attached to limbs to provide resistance, then motion control is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the exoskeleton into modular segments with independent actuators at key joint locations. Each segment operates semi-independently, allowing simplified control of individual joints while collectively providing comprehensive motion control. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity compared to a fully integrated approach.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances motion control and precision for astronauts in weightless environments, reduces the need for in-flight exercise, and provides operational benefits by replicating the sensation of gravity, thus facilitating transitions between gravitational environments.
Implementation Method 1
One way to replicate gravity is to attach actuators, such as gyroscopes, to the limbs of the wearer to apply 'downward' forces
Implementation Method 2
The actuators provide resistance to 'upward' movements, i.e., movements that would correspond to movements opposite the direction of gravity on Earth
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing resistance to movement of a wearer. The system includes a plurality of wearable actuators, a plurality of wearable sensors, and a processor. Each of the wearable sensors measures an indication of an orientation of a corresponding one of the wearable actuators with respect to a vertical direction. Each of the sensors also measures an indication of a motion experienced by the corresponding one of the wearable actuators. The processor receives data from each sensor indicating the orientation and the motion of the sensor. The processor determines an amount of resistance to apply using each of the actuators based on the vertical direction and sends instructions to the actuators. The instructions cause the actuators to apply a resistance to the wearer.