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

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该主要研究仪器（MRI-R2）奖的目标是开发一种减轻重力的模拟器。在地球上失重条件下人类活动的物理模拟不仅是宇航员训练的需要，也是航空航天和生物力学研究的需要。模拟一个人的重力降低条件要求人的身体部位经历与该条件一致的力和运动。该合同将使减少重力模拟器的创新设计得以实现。基于机器人技术和被动重力补偿技术，模拟器可以卸载任意数量的人的体重（从0%到100%），这样在模拟器中移动的人就会觉得他/她正在经历重力减轻。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；以及如何根据不同的个体自动调整系统以达到所需的重力减少水平。提出的模拟器的一个功能齐全、经过测试和文档化的原型将被交付。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，以推进载人航天探索和生物力学科学领域当前的跨学科研究和教育，以更好地理解人体动力学。该设施可以为训练宇航员和太空旅行者提供一种新的低成本技术。它还可以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，并支持人体性能研究以实现最佳运动步态。该研究小组将与新墨西哥州少数民族参与联盟合作，加强西班牙裔和其他少数民族学生的高等教育。

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.