How can astronauts on future space missions cope with reduced gravity? This is what a recent study published in Advanced Science hopes to address as a team of engineers and scientists investigated how a novel robotic exosuit that future astronauts on the Moon could wear to mitigate the effects of lower gravity. This study has the potential to not only help future astronauts overcome the limitations of reduced gravity in space but also help individuals with mobility issues on Earth.
For the study, the researchers introduced the resistive hypogravity exosuit (R-HEXsuit), which is a 1.4-kilogram (3.1-pound) exosuit that is designed to stimulate primary leg muscles under low-gravity conditions. The team tested R-HEXsuit using healthy human subjects under Earth gravity and simulated Moon gravity, which is one-sixth the gravity of Earth. In the end, the researchers found that R-HEXsuit successfully activated key leg muscles, enabling the users to maintain the same walking patterns while matching Earth levels for leg muscles.
“The hope is that this technology could pave the way for future wearable robotic systems that enhance astronaut performance and reduce fatigue during extra-vehicular surface activities,” said Dr. Emanuele Pulvirenti, who is a research associate in the Soft Robotics Lab at the University of Bristol and lead author of the study. “I would love to continue developing this technology so that it could eventually be tested at the International Space Station.”
Additionally, the team aspires to use this new technology for helping patients with mobility issues on Earth. This also comes as NASA and China are planning to send astronauts to the lunar surface before 2030, so R-HEXsuit might be useful soon.
How will R-HEXsuit enhance space exploration and patient mobility in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Advanced Science, EurekAlert!