Predicting Fatigue for Isolated Joints While Wearing an Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)

While the debate continues about the safety and applicability of heads-up displays (HUDs) and helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) in the aeronautical environment (as demonstrated in the July, October, and November 1987 issues of the Human Factors Society Bulletin), a voice-controlled HMD is being designed as the core of the information system for the new Space Station Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). This paper describes the human factors issues that suggest the HMD will be a safe and desirable tool for Space Station extravehicular activity (EVA). Also, it briefly outlines a Macintosh-based voice-interactive rapid prototyping system that is being used at the NASA Johnson Space Center for simulating and evaluating the HMD's ability to enhance astronaut productivity in the EVA setting.

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Thermal Modeling for Design Evaluation of Extravehicular Mobility Unit Heat Pipe Thermal Management Unit

10.4271/941385 ◽

1994 ◽

Author(s):

J. W. Galate

Keyword(s):

Heat Pipe ◽

Thermal Management ◽

Thermal Modeling ◽

Management Unit ◽

Design Evaluation ◽

Mobility Unit

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Preliminary Assessment of Ergonomic Injury Risk Factors in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Spacesuit Glove

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601227 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 982-986 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ryan Z. Amick ◽

Christopher R. Reid ◽

Linh Q. Vu ◽

Dan Nguyen ◽

Robert Sweet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Physiological Response ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Male Subject ◽

Laboratory Setting ◽

Preliminary Assessment ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Mobility Unit ◽

Injury Risk Factors

Injuries to the hands and fingers are commonly reported among astronauts who perform and train for Extravehicular Activities in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Spacesuit. In an effort to better understand the physical and environmental ergonomic injury risk factors associated with spacesuit glove use, a custom built carrier glove with multiple integrated sensors was developed to be worn within the spacesuit glove with the purpose of measuring the physical and environmental variables acting on the fingers and hand, and the physiological response, within two pressurized glove conditions in a 1G laboratory setting. One male subject performed multiple dynamic and functional tasks in a pressurized EMU. Results indicate that the sensor glove is capable of measuring multiple physical and environmental variables associated the development of finger and hand injuries observed in astronauts.

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Shape Programming Using Triangular and Rectangular Soft Robot Primitives

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi10040236 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 236

Author(s):

Phone Khin ◽

Jin Low ◽

Marcelo Ang ◽

Chen-Hua Yeow

Keyword(s):

State Transition ◽

Position Control ◽

Angular Displacement ◽

Rotary Joint ◽

Different Types ◽

Shape Programming ◽

Mobility Unit ◽

Pneumatic Structures ◽

System Movement ◽

Position Control System

This paper presents fabric-based soft robotic modules with primitive morphologies, which are analogous to basic geometrical polygons—trilateral and quadrilateral. The two modules are the inflatable beam (IB) and fabric-based rotary actuator (FRA). The FRA module is designed with origami-inspired V-shaped pleats, which creates a trilateral outline. Upon pressurization, the pleats unfold, which enables propagation of angular displacement of the FRA module. This allows the FRA module to be implemented as a mobility unit in the larger assembly of pneumatic structures. In the following, we examine various ways by which FRA modules can be connected to IB modules. We studied how different ranges of motion can be achieved by varying the design of the rotary joint of the assemblies. Using a state transition-based position control system, movement of the assembled modules could be controlled by regulating the pneumatic pressurization of the FRA module at the joint. These basic modules allow us to build different types of pneumatic structures. In this paper, using IB and FRA modules of various dimensions, we constructed a soft robotic limb with an end effector, which can be attached to wheelchairs to provide assistive grasping functions for users with disabilities.

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