Keywords: Exoskeleton Exoshoe | Space Robotics | Zero Gravity
Space Gliders are an exoshoe that use vacuum power to allow the astronaut to stick to surfaces in the aircraft – such as the floor, ceiling and sides of the aircraft. The magic is in the dome attached to the side of the exoshoe that is mounted with an impeller connected to a DC motor. The power of the motors are controlled by small joysticks attached to the user’s wrist. The astronaut will place their feet on a surface and then adjust the throttle of the motor until they feel a ‘pull’. At this point the dome has created a pressure zone underneath it which allows the user to remain stuck to the surface.
The vision of this system was to improve the astronaut’s mobility aboard the spacecraft. This would allow for enhanced control and freedom when maneuvering around and performing operational tasks. Currently astronaut’s must use support structures and chain like fixtures to move about and stabilize themselves when aboard the ISS and this is very restrictive and bothersome. With our system, we aim to reduce these support structures and as a result decrease the overall weight of the spacecraft.
Once I completed development of the system, I was invited to test it aboard a parabolic flight at the DAS headquarters in Nagoya, Japan. Parabolic flight of a small aircraft can simulate the effects of microgravity for short duration’s of time, in this case the effects lasted for 15 seconds at 6 repetitions. The objective was to test the performance of SpaceGliders to see if they could provide enough force to allow me to stick to the surface of the aircraft. I was overjoyed to observe the results were very positive and the system was deemed successful in allowing a user to stick to surfaces.
SpaceGliders provides greater stability for not only operative tasks and general mobility but also for augmenting fitness and training within microgravity environments. Before training the astronaut may use the exoshoe to stick to a surface in order to stabilize their body and heighten muscle activation relative to the weights. In the same trend, we hope that SpaceGliders may one day be used in the gameplay of zero gravity sports!