Validation of Methods for Evaluating Operation Force, Motion and Visual Perception in Weightlessness

Previous studies have neglected two important aspects for the China National Space Administration. First, while biomechanical models are very sensitive to the characteristics of the subjects, data have been collected on subjects with biomechanical characteristics very different from those of "typical" Chinese astronauts. Second, pure video analysis techniques and kinematic data lack the necessary acceleration information important to understanding the forces exerted during movement and control of human motion. While some studies used force and moment sensors to aid in robot torque control and human joint work estimation, investigators are unaware of any studies performed in a microgravity environment that have combined the kinetic force and moment information with acceleration measurements to enable more reliable motion tracking without the need for acceleration estimation.

This is why MICR0-G sensors and accompanying kinematic video system have been developed in order to provide for detailed analyses of the astronaut movement control strategy (joint forces and torques, kinetic and acceleration measurements). Knowledge of the joint torques permits us to calculate the joint and musculoskeletal dynamics required to execute the microgravity motions, as well to provide insight into the altered movement strategies in reduced gravity as compared to 1-G locomotion.