Report of the Workshop on Biology-based Technology to Enhance Human Well-being and Function in Extended Space Exploration (1998) / Chapter Skim
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3 Enhancing Human Presence and Function in Space Exploration
3 Enhancing Human Presence and Function in Space Exploration
Pages 36-53
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From page 36... ...
Metabolism is a method for storing and using energy' neurophysiology enables human adaptation to different environments and provides mechanisms for modifying that adaptation, modeling of insect behavior reveals different methods for exploring unknown terrain, and so on. The middle column provides examples of technologies that can implement some biological functions.
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_ New Materials Model~ngfe.g., Insect Behavior and Structure) Integrated ~ System/Task ~Power Source J Integration FIGURE 3.1 Generalized framework outlining how biological concepts and principles relate to various types of functions.
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Perception Astronauts sometimes experience perceptual difficulties. Spatial orientation in microgravity is a particular problem, especially during extravehicular activity (EVA)
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Current-generation space suits need to be redesigned in any case, because they are too heavy for use on Mars and their multilayer insulation would lose most of its effectiveness in the martian atmosphere. As part of the redesign effort, biological concepts could be introduced into space suit design to enhance astronaut function and comfort and provide reliable, mobile, dexterous, comfortable, and easily maintained protection.
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The optimal wrist position for maximal finger grip is approximately 40 degrees of wrist dorsiflexion. If a space suit glove constrains the wrist position to some other degree of flexion, muscle force will not be optimal, resulting in reduced dexterity and increased fatigue.
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Biological materials that could provide useful concepts for space suits include the exoskeletal structures of insects, which are quite dexterous, and sharkskin, which has a cross-hatched fiber orientation that provides both flexibility and structural integrity (Wainright et al., ~ 9781. There are many examples of cross-spiral-wrapped biological structures with well-studied and highly desirable properties such as axial bending (e.g., endomysial connective tissue, worm bodies, giraffe fascia)
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Given the limited medical resources that will be available in long-term spaceflight or colonization, and the remoteness of the astronauts from medical facilities, NASA could monitor research on alternative medicine approaches to see if they can be applied in a space medicine context: The exercise research projects are short term. Enhance Adaptation to New Environments NASA has experimented with various methods (e.g., biofeedback)
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. Enhance Visual Input/Output Visual capabilities play an important role in the human exploration of space, not only in documenting the environment but also in maintaining spatial orientation.
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Extensive research is under way to design an artificial retina consisting of a sensor and processor on a single chip; the challenge is to reduce data and bandwidth needs and increase dynamic range. The artificial retina is an example of computational sensors, which combine computation and sensing to increase performance and capabilities over those enabled by standard sensing and computing modalities.3 These sensors integrate VLSI elements, either analog or digital, directly with sensing elements or nearby in a tightly coupled, on-chip manner, or use geometry or material properties to achieve computational gains.
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There may be opportunities to apply biological principles in robot development to help meet NASA's needs for effective human-machine collaboration, improved situational awareness, and optimal decision making. For example, the development of software that senses its own and an astronaut's anxiety could provide robots with the "brains" needed to extend mission capabilities while also enhancing the reliability and configurability of the software.
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Anecdotal reports suggest that astronauts' inhibitions against revealing their emotions have compromised abilities to accomplish tasks in the past. Physiological monitoring of cognitive and emotional states could provide confidential biofeedback to promote relaxation.
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The combined structural and functional imaging capabilities of MRI offer extraordinary opportunities to determine the parts of the brain associated with specific abilities (Orrison et al., 19951. However, the response of functional MRI (on the order of 1 to 2 seconds, because of the inherent physiology ofthe blood flow response)
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One such topic is the design of comfortable, fc;nctional spacesuits that incorporate biological concepts, such as 40-degree-angle wrist settings that provide maximum dexterity and grip, and biomolecular materials such as those modeled on strong-yet-dexterous sharkskin. A second workshop could explore the possibility of designing a SQUID cap or helmet that would apply MEG technology to record astronauts' brain waves and provide feedback on cognitive states.
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1996. A primate genesis model of focal dystonia and repetitive strain injury: Learning-induced Redifferentiation of the representation of the hand in the primary somatosensory cortex in adult monkeys.
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1989. Visually perceived eye level and perceived elevation of objects: Linearly additive influence from visual field pitch and from gravity.
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1993. Alternating prism exposure causes dual adaptation and generalization to a novel displacement.
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Young, L.R.
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