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Parabolic Flight Investigation for Advanced Exercise Concept Hardware Hybrid Ultimate Lifting Kit (HULK)Long-duration space flight poses many hazards to the health of the crew. Among those hazards is the physiological deconditioning of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems due to prolonged exposure to microgravity. To combat this erosion of physical condition space flight may take on the crew, the Human Research Program (HRP) is charged with developing Advanced Exercise Concepts to maintain astronaut health and fitness during long-term missions, while keeping device mass, power, and volume to a minimum. The goal of this effort is to preserve the physical capability of the crew to perform mission critical tasks in transit and during planetary surface operations. The HULK is a pneumatic-based exercise system, which provides both resistive and aerobic modes to protect against human deconditioning in microgravity. Its design targeted the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) high level performance characteristics and provides up to 600 foot pounds resitive loading with the capability to allow for eccentric to concentric (E:C) ratios of higher than 1:1 through a DC motor assist component. The device's rowing mode allows for high cadence aerobic activity. The HULK parabolic flight campaign, conducted through the NASA Flight Opportunities Program at Ellington Field, resulted in the creation of device specific data sets including low fidelity motion capture, accelerometry and both inline and ground reaction forces. These data provide a critical link in understanding how to vibration isolate the device in both ISS and space transit applications. Secondarily, the study of human exercise and associated body kinematics in microgravity allows for more complete understanding of human to machine interface designs to allow for maximum functionality of the device in microgravity.
Document ID
20150002717
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Weaver, A. S.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Funk, J. H.
(ZIN Technologies, Inc. Middleburg Heights, OH, United States)
Funk, N. W.
(ZIN Technologies, Inc. Middleburg Heights, OH, United States)
Sheehan, C. C.
(ZIN Technologies, Inc. Middleburg Heights, OH, United States)
Humphreys, B. T.
(ZIN Technologies, Inc. Middleburg Heights, OH, United States)
Perusek, G. P.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
March 10, 2015
Publication Date
January 13, 2015
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN20359
Meeting Information
Meeting: Human Research Program Investigators Workshop
Location: Galveston, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: January 13, 2015
End Date: January 15, 2015
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters, National Space Biomedical Research Inst.
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 516724.01.02.10
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC14CA02C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
countermeasures
physical exercise
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