SPACEFLIGHT ADAPTATIONS INCLUDE MUSCLE ATROPHY, DECREASED BONE MINERAL DENSITY AND REDUCED AEROBIC CAPACITY…

Public award description

SPACEFLIGHT ADAPTATIONS INCLUDE MUSCLE ATROPHY, DECREASED BONE MINERAL DENSITY AND REDUCED AEROBIC CAPACITY MAKING EFFECTIVE RESISTANCE EXERCISE COUNTERMEASURE HARDWARE NECESSARY FOR SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SPACE EXPLORATION. REAL-TIME CONTROL IS APPLIED TO AN ELECTRIC SERVO-MOTOR TO PROVIDE RESISTANCE IN A LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPACT, AND RECONFIGURABLE DESIGN. THE KEY REAL-TIME FORCE CONTROL WITH THE ABILITY TO ACCURATELY SIMULATE A FREEWEIGHT LIFT WAS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED DURING PHASE 1. A CYCLE ERGOMETER WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AEROBIC EXERCISE AND POWER GENERATION. THE TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES FOR PHASE 2 INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPACT FLIGHT CONFIGURATION PROTOTYPE THAT SUPPORTS A VARIETY OF EXERCISE MODES. THE LOADS ARE ADJUSTABLE IN 2.5 KG INCREMENTS TO MAINTAIN MUSCLE STRENGTH AND BONE DENSITY. LIMITED HUMAN SUBJECT TESTING WILL DEMONSTRATE FUNCTIONALITY SPANNING ENTIRE ANTHROPOMETRIC RANGE.