Not only does the device have extraterrestrial applications, but it could also assist those who require assistance with their movement on Earth.
The soft robotic exosuit is designed to mimic a garment and is primarily constructed from fabric materials. The exosuit, worn beneath the spacesuit, features artificial muscles that activate automatically to assist astronauts in avoiding muscular fatigue while allowing for natural movements during future Moon and Mars missions.
Dr. Emanuele Pulvirenti, a research associate at the University of Bristol's Soft Robotics Lab, visited the University of Adelaide in Australia, which houses the Exterres CRATER facility, the largest simulated lunar environment in the Southern Hemisphere.
The exosuit was tested as part of an international 'proof of concept' simulated space mission organized by the Austrian Space Forum. The 'World's Biggest Analog' mission had 200 scientists from 25 nations collaborating on various experiments and operational simulations across four continents and reporting back to the mission control station in Austria.
The ADAMA mission, organized by ICEE.space and featuring Dr. Pulvirenti, marked the first time a soft robotic exosuit was integrated into a spacesuit, as well as the first field test. The experiments assessed comfort, mobility, and biomechanical consequences while undertaking planetary surface tasks such as walking, climbing, and transporting loads across loose ground.
Dr Pulvirenti created the exosuit himself and taught himself to sew in the process.
Fortunately my grandmother worked as a tailor and she was able to give me some advice.
Dr. Emanuele Pulvirenti, Research Associate, Soft Robotics Lab, University of Bristol
He developed the lightweight exosuit in collaboration with Vivo Hub colleagues at the University of Bristol.
The artificial muscles in the suit consist of two layers: an outer nylon layer and an inner thermoplastic layer that allows for airtight inflation. The anchoring components, such as the waistline and knee straps, are constructed of Kevlar for maximum strength and tension resistance.
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. I would love to continue developing this technology so that it could eventually be tested at the International Space Station.
Dr. Emanuele Pulvirenti, Research Associate, Soft Robotics Lab, University of Bristol
Dr Pulvirenti explained, “It is exciting that this technology could also potentially benefit people too. This exosuit is assistive, meaning it artificially boosts the lower-limb muscles, but we have also separately developed a resistive exosuit, which applies load to the body to help maintain muscle mass.”
He concluded, “Our next goal is to create a hybrid suit that can switch between assistance and resistance modes as needed, which could be of great benefit for people in need of support with mobility going through physical rehabilitation.”