Electronic systems for space suits
Extreme environments, like space, may have serious physiological condition altering effects on those who dare enter their reach, regarding the absence of Earth-like levels of gravity and the presence of heightened levels of ionizing radiations. Of course, because of the very prosperous economic and scientific prospects of orbital and suborbital flight these problematics have to be decisively challenged and resolved to facilitate space exploration in missions of ever longer durations.
The Optoelectronics laboratory contributed with REA Space in the design of an intravehicular space suit with the objective of monitoring and mitigating the physiological effects of microgravity on astronauts, improving their quality of life and safety during space missions. Said suit addresses two key issues: muscle atrophy, by delivering controlled electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to the muscles, and fluid redistribution, through an elastic fabric that provides effective compression [1]. The Optoelectronics laboratory played a central role in the development of this innovative system, taking charge of the design, realization, and testing of the core hardware components. In particular, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) was developed and a network of flex sensors capable of capturing real-time movement data of the astronaut’s joints was integrated in the smart garment to deliver biofeedback to the EMS system.
This advanced technology was successfully tested during the AX-3 Mission (January 19th, 2024) where it was worn by Col. Walter Villadei and enabled for precise measurement of body movements. The data post-processing effort realized by the Optoelectronics laboratory confirmed that the suit reliably acquired and transmitted movement data under real space conditions, affirming the quality and robustness of the in-house developed hardware and software. The collected data was also used to faithfully reconstruct the astronaut’s movements through biomechanical simulation, visually demonstrating the effectiveness of this innovation.
References
[1] M. Pellegrini, G. Coviello, G. Brunetti, F. Angelini, I. Lagravinese, G. Manca, F. A. Gentile, R. Vittori and C. Ciminelli, “Design and Development of New Wearable and Protective Equipment for Human Spaceflights,” Applications in Electronics Pervading Industry, Environment and Society (ApplePies 2023), vol. 1110, pp. 189-195, Jan. 2024. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-48121-5_27. link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-48121-5_27