Robotic Limbs Help Fallen Astronauts Get Up

Sometimes, everyone falls, and even astronauts, despite the optimal physical conditions required for space travel, can trip over themselves due to the combination of cumbersome space suits and low gravity levels

A possible solution to this highly particular problem is robotic appendages. Although they cannot altogether avert accidents, they can assist space travelers in regaining their balance.

Engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) have developed an exoskeleton to provide astronauts with increased stability and aid in self-righting in the lunar environment’s low gravity. The “SuperLimbs” and the astronaut’s life support system are housed in a rucksack that incorporates the backpack’s motors.

The wearer’s feedback is directly incorporated into the system, which is currently in the prototype stage. It provides constructive support while seated or lying down, enabling the individual to rise with reduced energy expenditure; any additional effort is beneficial in such circumstances.

“Eighty percent of the time during the Apollo era, astronauts fell while performing excavation or tool-related tasks,” explains MIT doctoral student Erik Ballesteros. “Because the Artemis missions will be preoccupied with excavation and construction, the risk of falling is significantly increased.” SuperLimbs can assist them in recuperating so that they may increase their output and prolong their EVAs.

The system is an adaptation of a prototype designed initially for terrestrial laborers several years ago. Over the past few years, exosuits have become popular to prevent avoidable injuries among construction workers and others performing manual labor. After discussions with NASA, the project team initiated the process of modifying the work.

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“We learned through communications with NASA that this issue of falling on the moon represents a significant risk,” says a professor of mechanical engineering, Harry Asada, at MIT. “We realized that certain adjustments to our design could facilitate astronauts’ recovery from falls and enable them to resume their tasks.”