Multi-Shaft Clinostat Pseudo-Random Control for Microgravity Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clinostats face challenges in maintaining constant microgravity levels for larger living beings and tend to stabilize, allowing samples to adapt and lose the microgravity effect, making it difficult to study the effects of microgravity on organisms of varying sizes and masses.
Innovation Solution
A mechatronic system with N degrees of freedom, featuring multiple independently controlled rotating shafts, generates a stable and constant level of microgravity, preventing adaptation by applying pseudo-random rotation speeds and directions, capable of housing living beings or objects up to 150 kg, including humans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clinostats with single or two rotating shafts are used, then microgravity can be generated for small samples, but the system stabilizes and allows samples to adapt, losing the microgravity effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing N (>2) independently controlled rotating shafts that continuously vary their rotation speeds and directions according to pseudo-random algorithms. This dynamic control prevents the system from stabilizing into predictable patterns, thereby maintaining the microgravity effect throughout extended experimental durations without sample adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action through controlled rotation of multiple shafts at varying frequencies and amplitudes. Each shaft rotates periodically but with different parameters that change over time according to pseudo-random sequences, creating continuous microgravity conditions that prevent biological adaptation while maintaining reliable microgravity effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional clinostats are used, then microgravity can be generated, but it is difficult to study effects on organisms of varying sizes and masses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing each of the N rotating shafts to operate with independently adjustable parameters including rotation speed, amplitude, and phase. The control system dynamically modifies these parameters based on pseudo-random algorithms, enabling the system to adapt to different sample sizes and masses while maintaining consistent microgravity levels through real-time parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the rotation control into N independent shafts, each capable of operating with different parameters. This segmentation allows the system to handle organisms of varying sizes and masses by assigning appropriate rotation characteristics to each shaft, thereby achieving both versatility in sample accommodation and reliability in microgravity generation.
3Reliability
If multiple independently controlled rotating shafts are used, then stable and constant microgravity can be generated preventing adaptation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing each of the N rotating shafts to perform multiple functions: generating centrifugal forces, creating Coriolis effects, and producing varied gravitational vectors. This multi-functionality allows the increased number of shafts to contribute to enhanced microgravity stability rather than merely increasing complexity, as each shaft serves multiple purposes in maintaining constant microgravity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where sensors detect the actual microgravity conditions and feed this information back to the control system. The controller then adjusts the rotation parameters of the N shafts in real-time based on this feedback, ensuring stable and constant microgravity generation. This feedback loop justifies the increased device complexity by automatically optimizing the performance of multiple shafts to maintain reliable microgravity conditions.
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
The system provides a stable and continuous microgravity environment that prevents adaptation, allowing for extended experimentation and effective study of microgravity effects on larger organisms and objects, while maintaining a constant level of microgravity, even for high-mass samples.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation of said rotating bodies generates a level of simulated microgravity in said means to house a sample
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for generating microgravity comprising: a first rotating body (12) for rotating around a first shaft (12a), actuated by first actuation means (24), a means (60) for housing a sample circumscribed in the first rotating body (12), a second rotating body (11) for rotating around a second shaft (11a) actuated by second actuation means (23) and disposed in the interior of a volume delimited by the second rotating body (11), a third rotating body (10) for rotating around a third shaft (10a) actuated by third actuation means (21, 22) and disposed in the interior of a volume delimited by the third rotating body (10). The first, second and third actuation means are independent from each other, the rotation of each shaft being independent from the rotation of the other shafts. The rotation of said rotating bodies generates a level of simulated microgravity in the means for housing a sample. The apparatus comprises processing means for controlling the rotation of each shaft through the application, in each shaft, of a pseudo-random value of rotation speed during a pseudo-random time value, achieving an instability effect to prevent the sample housed in said means from adapting to the simulated microgravity generated by the apparatus (1).