MIT engineers have developed a wearable robotic limb system called SuperLimbs to help astronauts get back on their feet after falling on the moon. The idea was inspired by NASA’s Apollo outtakes of astronauts stumbling and tripping in low gravity. The researchers designed the system to physically support astronauts and conserve their energy for essential tasks during extravehicular activities (EVAs) on the moon. With the Artemis mission planned to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years, the SuperLimbs could play a crucial role in assisting astronauts during construction and excavation tasks.
The SuperLimbs system is an extension of technology developed by MIT professor Harry Asada a decade ago. The team studied human movements after falls to understand how to assist astronauts effectively. Volunteers were asked to stand upright after lying down in different positions, wearing suits that mimic the stiffness of spacesuits. The researchers analyzed the sequence of movements as the volunteers stood up and developed a controller to guide a robotic arm attached to a backpack. The robotic arm sensed the person’s movements and adapted to help them stand, resulting in stable standing with less effort.
By utilizing the control system and the latest version of SuperLimbs, which features two multijointed robotic arms extending from a backpack, the researchers aim to assist astronauts in getting back on their feet after a fall more efficiently. The current prototype of SuperLimbs includes motors and batteries housed in the backpack along with an astronaut’s ventilation system. The team plans to further develop the system at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory by optimizing the design and minimizing the weight of parts using advanced lightweight materials. The goal is to eventually test the system in low-gravity simulators with astronaut suits for future missions to the moon and Mars.
The design of SuperLimbs is based on the common sequence of motions humans use to stand up after falling, which the researchers discovered through ergonomic experiments. The system is controlled by software that generates a trajectory for the robotic arms to support and lift a person back on their feet. Volunteers reported feeling an extra force moving with them as they stood up, making the process easier and more natural. With plans to pair the control system with the latest version of SuperLimbs, the researchers hope to assist astronauts in recovering from falls and improving productivity during missions by reducing the physical burden of wearing spacesuits.
The team’s design is timely considering the increased risk of falling on the moon during upcoming missions focusing on construction and excavation activities. The SuperLimbs system has potential applications in various fields, including aircraft manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding. By supporting astronauts in getting back on their feet after a fall and conserving their energy, SuperLimbs could play a crucial role in future moon and Mars missions. The research was supported by NASA, highlighting the importance of developing innovative technologies to assist astronauts in challenging environments.
