Smart Spacesuit Glove for Gesture Control Under Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Astronauts face inefficiency and fatigue during extravehicular activities due to the pressurization and complexity of spacesuits, which limit dexterity and require manual handling of tools and equipment, necessitating frequent work breaks and cumbersome controller use.
Innovation Solution
A smart glove system with sensors and controllers that enable intuitive control of spacesuit informatics and external devices like robotic arms and drones, allowing for gesture-based control and reducing the need for separate controllers, with power harvesting and wireless communication options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spacesuit gloves are used, then astronaut safety and pressurization are maintained, but dexterity and control efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical hand operations with sensor-based gesture detection. Sensors in the glove detect hand movements and translate them into control signals, eliminating the need for direct mechanical manipulation of controls while maintaining full functionality. This substitution preserves the protective function of the spacesuit while restoring dexterity through non-contact control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove acts as an intermediary device between the astronaut's hand movements and the control systems. It contains sensors that detect gestures and a controller that translates these gestures into control signals for the informatics system and external devices, serving as a mediator that preserves both safety and operational ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate controllers are used for external devices, then control functionality is provided, but astronaut workload and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is designed as a universal control interface that can operate multiple different devices including informatics systems, robotic arms, drones, and surface rovers. The gesture recognition system and controller are configured to handle various device types through a single unified interface, eliminating the need for multiple specialized controllers and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control functions for multiple external devices into a single glove system. The controller integrates gesture translation capabilities for different device types, and the informatics system serves as a central hub that routes commands to appropriate devices, combining what would traditionally require separate controllers into one unified system.
3Ease of operation
If manual handling of tools is required, then astronaut control is maintained, but fatigue and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical handling with gesture-based control. Sensors detect hand movements and the controller translates them into electronic control signals, allowing astronauts to manipulate tools and equipment without physical contact. This substitution reduces physical fatigue while maintaining precise control, thereby improving work efficiency during extended EVA operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A glove (110) for human work in extreme environments includes a body formed to substantially surround a human hand, at least one sensor (131, 133) provided in connection with the body, positioned to detect an extent of movement of a respective joint of the human hand, a controller (123) provided in connection with the glove, adapted and configured to translate a signal generated by the sensor into a control signal, and to transmit the control signal to a receiver housed within a spacesuit informatics system.