MRI-R2: Development of Adaptive Reduced-Gravity Simulator for Aerospace and Biomechanics Research

MRI-R2：用于航空航天和生物力学研究的自适应减重模拟器的开发

• 批准号: 0960156
• 负责人: Ou Ma
• 金额: $ 167.52万
• 依托单位: New Mexico State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-01-15 至 2013-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0960156&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; R2; Development; Adaptive; Reduced

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The objective of this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI-R2) award is to develop a reduced-gravity simulator. Physical simulation of human activities in a reduced gravity condition on Earth is often needed not only for training astronauts but also for aerospace and biomechanics research. Simulation of a reduced gravity condition for a person requires that the person's body parts experience the forces and movements consistent with that condition. This award will enable implementation of an innovative design of a reduced-gravity simulator. Based on robotics and passive gravity compensation technologies, the simulator could offload any amount (from 0% to 100%) of the body weight of a person such that the person moving within the simulator will feel as if he/she were experiencing reduced gravity. The equipment will provide a platform for investigating many research questions, such as how to optimize the design for best dynamic performance; how to identify the mass properties of different body parts; and how to automatically adjust the system for different individuals to achieve the desired level of gravity reduction. A fully functioning, tested, and documented prototype of the proposed simulator will be delivered.The technology and instrumentation system developed by this project will provide a strong infrastructure at New Mexico State University to advance the current interdisciplinary research and education in aerospace science for manned space exploration and biomechanics science for better understanding of human-body dynamics. The facility could provide a new and low-cost technology for training astronauts and space travelers. It could also be used to create a human motion database including detailed body inertia properties, enhance biomedical research for neuro-rehabilitation of disabled people, and support human performance research for achieving optimal motion gaits. The research team will work with the New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation to enhance higher education of Hispanic and other minority students.

该奖项根据 2009 年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法 111-5）提供资金。该重大研究仪器 (MRI-R2) 奖项的目标是开发减重模拟器。在地球重力减小的条件下对人类活动进行物理模拟不仅是训练宇航员的需要，也是航空航天和生物力学研究的需要。模拟人的重力减小条件需要人的身体部位经历与该条件一致的力和运动。该奖项将有助于实施减重模拟器的创新设计。基于机器人技术和被动重力补偿技术，模拟器可以减轻任何量（从 0% 到 100%）的人体重，这样在模拟器内移动的人就会感觉自己正在经历重力减轻。 该设备将为研究许多研究问题提供一个平台，例如如何优化设计以获得最佳动态性能；如何识别不同身体部位的质量特性；以及如何针对不同个体自动调整系统以达到所需的重力降低程度。将交付所提出的模拟器的功能齐全、经过测试和记录的原型。该项目开发的技术和仪器系统将为新墨西哥州立大学提供强大的基础设施，以推进当前载人航天探索和生物力学科学领域的跨学科研究和教育，以更好地理解人体动力学。该设施可以为培训宇航员和太空旅行者提供一种新的低成本技术。它还可用于创建包含详细身体惯性特性的人体运动数据库，加强残疾人神经康复的生物医学研究，并支持实现最佳运动步态的人类表现研究。该研究小组将与新墨西哥州少数族裔参与联盟合作，加强西班牙裔和其他少数族裔学生的高等教育。