Wuest Simon L, Richard Stéphane, Kopp Sascha, Grimm Daniela, Egli Marcel
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, School of Engineering and Architecture, CC Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Seestraße 41, 6052 Hergiswil, Switzerland.
Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:971474. doi: 10.1155/2015/971474. Epub 2015 Jan 14.
Random Positioning Machines (RPMs) have been used since many years as a ground-based model to simulate microgravity. In this review we discuss several aspects of the RPM. Recent technological development has expanded the operative range of the RPM substantially. New possibilities of live cell imaging and partial gravity simulations, for example, are of particular interest. For obtaining valuable and reliable results from RPM experiments, the appropriate use of the RPM is of utmost importance. The simulation of microgravity requires that the RPM's rotation is faster than the biological process under study, but not so fast that undesired side effects appear. It remains a legitimate question, however, whether the RPM can accurately and reliably simulate microgravity conditions comparable to real microgravity in space. We attempt to answer this question by mathematically analyzing the forces working on the samples while they are mounted on the operating RPM and by comparing data obtained under real microgravity in space and simulated microgravity on the RPM. In conclusion and after taking the mentioned constraints into consideration, we are convinced that simulated microgravity experiments on the RPM are a valid alternative for conducting examinations on the influence of the force of gravity in a fast and straightforward approach.
多年来，随机定位机（RPMs）一直被用作模拟微重力的地面模型。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了RPM的几个方面。最近的技术发展极大地扩展了RPM的操作范围。例如，活细胞成像和部分重力模拟的新可能性尤其令人关注。为了从RPM实验中获得有价值且可靠的结果，正确使用RPM至关重要。模拟微重力要求RPM的旋转速度比所研究的生物过程快，但又不能太快以至于出现不良副作用。然而，RPM是否能够准确可靠地模拟与太空真实微重力相当的微重力条件，仍然是一个合理的问题。我们试图通过数学分析样本安装在运行的RPM上时作用于样本的力，并比较在太空真实微重力条件下和RPM上模拟微重力条件下获得的数据来回答这个问题。总之，在考虑到上述限制因素后，我们确信在RPM上进行模拟微重力实验是一种以快速直接的方式研究重力影响的有效替代方法。
