Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, ENG 030, Tampa, FL 33620, United States.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, ENB 118, Tampa, FL 33620, United States.
Life Sci Space Res (Amst). 2022 Aug;34:16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.05.003. Epub 2022 May 14.
With long-term space flights being planned for the Moon and Mars, proper countermeasures must be taken to facilitate human health in microgravity environments. Exercise is a vital countermeasure used to prevent bone and muscle loss, among other health interests. Future exploration missions encourage creating an exercise device that is both compact and can be used to properly execute exercise by the astronauts. Current design considerations include interfacing an exercise device with a vibration isolation and stabilization (VIS) system, which is necessary for protecting the spacecraft and sensitive experiments from harmful vibrations developed during repetitive exercise. This human factor study assesses the feasibility of a VIS system exercise device by using the Computer Assistive Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) to simulate characteristics of the system. The CAREN includes a 6 degree of freedom (DOF) platform, force plates and a motion capture system. An algorithm was developed using the D-Flow software to move the platform in 1 and 2 DOF sinusoidal responses. Multiple sinusoidal frequencies for platform motion during subject exercise were evaluated. Four subjects completed squat and row exercises on the CAREN while their motion was recorded. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected from each subject. Trials were executed with 1-2 DOF motion in heave and pitch. Results conclude that subjects completed exercises with adequate range of motion (ROM) and ground reaction forces (GRF) during each trial. Certain environments, such as movement at a slower frequency (0.10 Hz) and movement of heave and pitch at differing frequencies, caused loss of balance indicated by grabbing of the handrail in some subjects and difficulty in synchronization between the subjects and the platform. This indicates that VIS system design should focus on frequency of movements centering around subjects' natural exercise frequencies if possible. This study serves as a proof of concept for using CAREN and programming tool D-Flow to simulate platform movement on VIS system design. Further experimentation will test more detailed designs, including active and passive systems that will move based on real-time subject data.
随着月球和火星的长期太空飞行计划的制定，必须采取适当的对策来促进微重力环境下的人类健康。运动是一种重要的对策，可用于防止骨骼和肌肉流失等健康问题。未来的探索任务鼓励创建一种既紧凑又能让宇航员正确执行运动的运动设备。目前的设计考虑因素包括将运动设备与振动隔离和稳定（VIS）系统接口，这对于保护航天器和敏感实验免受重复运动过程中产生的有害振动是必要的。这项人体因素研究通过使用计算机辅助康复环境（CAREN）来模拟系统的特性，评估了 VIS 系统运动设备的可行性。CAREN 包括一个 6 自由度（DOF）平台、力板和运动捕捉系统。使用 D-Flow 软件开发了一个算法，用于在 1 和 2 DOF 正弦响应中移动平台。评估了平台在受试者运动过程中的多个正弦频率。四位受试者在 CAREN 上完成了深蹲和划船练习，同时记录了他们的运动。从每个受试者收集运动学和动力学数据。在纵摇和俯仰方向上进行了 1-2 DOF 运动的试验。结果表明，在每个试验中，受试者都能完成足够的运动幅度（ROM）和地面反作用力（GRF）的运动。在某些环境下，例如以较慢的频率（0.10 Hz）运动或在不同频率下的纵摇和俯仰运动，导致一些受试者抓住扶手失去平衡，以及受试者和平台之间的同步困难。这表明 VIS 系统设计应集中在围绕受试者自然运动频率的运动频率上，如果可能的话。这项研究证明了使用 CAREN 和编程工具 D-Flow 来模拟 VIS 系统设计上的平台运动的概念。进一步的实验将测试更详细的设计，包括基于实时受试者数据移动的主动和被动系统。
