science

Smart glove that lets astronauts control drones with hand gestures

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New  technology is giving astronauts exploring distant worlds a helping hand.

Scientists from NASA and the SETI Institute have developed a ‘smart glove’ that lets astronauts control robots, specifically drones, through one-handed gestures.

The innovation uses a micro-controller to read an array of sensors that capture even the smallest motion of the fingers and hands.

The glove coincides with NASA’s latest spacesuit design that aims to add more comfort and efficiency for astronauts as they explore the moon and Mars.

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Scientists from NASA and the SETI Institute have developed a 'smart glove' that lets astronauts control robots, specifically drones, through one-handed gestures

Scientists from NASA and the SETI Institute have developed a ‘smart glove’ that lets astronauts control robots, specifically drones, through one-handed gestures

The smart glove is a prototype for a human-machine interface (HuMI) that would allow astronauts to wirelessly operate a wide array of robotic assets, including drones, via simple single-hand gestures.

This technology frees up astronaut’s hands, allowing them to multi task while exploring distant planets or Earth’s own moon.

‘A smart glove-equipped spacesuit could be a solution,’ said Dr. Pascal Lee, a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute and the Mars Institute, and director of the NASA Haughton-Mars Project at NASA Ames Research Center. 

‘With it, astronauts could easily control a range of robotic assets, making science and exploration operations on the Moon, Mars and at other destinations more effective and productive.’

The NASA Haughton-Mars Project is testing the technology over the terrain of Devon Island in the High Arctic, as it is deemed ‘one of the most Mars-like places on Earth’ and lets researchers get an idea of how technology will react on the red planet.

The smart glove was developed by the technology firm Ntention, which is run by a team of students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.

The students first invented to the glove to control drones on Earth, but has since been adopted to be used in space.

After seeing a demonstration of Ntention’s smart glove for terrestrial applications, Lee suggested that it could be applied to an astronaut’s spacesuit and proposed to carry out a field study of the ‘Astronaut Smart Glove’ concept at HMP.

The innovation uses a micro-controller to read an array of sensors that capture even the smallest motion of the fingers and hands

The innovation uses a micro-controller to read an array of sensors that capture even the smallest motion of the fingers and hands

‘Our philosophy is to create technology that makes human-machine interfacing intuitive and seamless,’ said Moina Medboe Tamuly, COO and co-founder of Ntention, and a field participant at HMP-2019. ‘Now, we are excited to see that our technology has potential applications in space exploration.’

The smart glove is fitted with a tiny controller that reads different sensors that are capable of capturing even the smallest finger and hand motions.

The smart glove is a prototype for a human-machine interface (HuMI) that would allow astronauts to wirelessly operate a wide array of robotic assets, including drones, via simple single-hand gestures

The smart glove is a prototype for a human-machine interface (HuMI) that would allow astronauts to wirelessly operate a wide array of robotic assets, including drones, via simple single-hand gestures

The sensors then wirelessly transfer the data to a mobile device that controls the drone or any other robot. 

‘Astronauts need spacesuits that make it easy for them to interact with their environment, including perform complex and delicate tasks,’ said Dr. Greg Quinn, advanced spacesuit development lead at Collins Aerospace. 

The sensors then wirelessly transfer the data to a mobile devices that controls the drone or any other robot

The sensors then wirelessly transfer the data to a mobile devices that controls the drone or any other robot

‘The next generation suit will incorporate intelligent technologies that will take current capabilities to a new level.’ 

The new technology joins NASA’s shift in spacesuit design, as the American space agency has redesigned the gear to be flexible, versatile and allow for more activities.

Last month, the organization showed off two new spacesuits at a press conference, which will be worn by the crew on the Artemis mission in 2024.  

NASA unveiled both a full suit for extra-vehicular activities on the lunar surface and a flight suit for transit in orbit. 

The new technology joins NASA's shift in spacesuit design, as the American space agency has redesigned the gear to be flexible, versatile and allow for more activities. Last month, the organization showed off two new spacesuits at a press conference, which will be worn by the crew on the Artemis mission in 2024

The new technology joins NASA’s shift in spacesuit design, as the American space agency has redesigned the gear to be flexible, versatile and allow for more activities. Last month, the organization showed off two new spacesuits at a press conference, which will be worn by the crew on the Artemis mission in 2024

This one has been engineered to remove the need for astronauts to ‘bunny hop’ in order to move around and will allow them to bend down and raise their arms.

The xEMU model provides mobility and flexibility for when exploring the lunar surface and the Orion Crew Survival Suit is to be worn while taking off or landing.  

A famous video of Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, is floating around the web that shows the American astronaut bunny hopping across the lunar surface, which is one of the many issues NASA hopes to eliminate with the new design.

Now, the women and men of the Artemis mission will have more freedom to move with NASA’s new design.

The model set to let the crew better explore the surface is called ‘xEMu’ and it looks very similar to the traditional space gear, but is designed with modern technology. 

Each suit will also come with a pair of gloves that provide finger movement, which was demonstrated in the reveal – and the smart glove could be one in the pair.

And the gear was developed to withstand the freezing temperatures on the moon.

Kristine Davis, an Advanced Space Suit Engineer at NASA and the person who demonstrated the xEMU variant of the suit on stage at the event last month, said the new design can accommodate anyone from the ‘first percentile female to the 99th percentile male.’

‘We want every person who dreams of going into space to be able to say to themselves, that yes, they have that opportunity,’ she added.

The other suit, called the ‘Orion Crew Survival Suit,’ is a much lighter and was made to be work when astronauts are taking off and landing on the moon.

When in use, this suit depressurizes in order to protect the wearer from accidental depressurization.

It was demonstrated by Dustin Gohmert, Project Manager on the Orion crew suit, who explained that it also has thermal protection and radiation protection, though not to the level of the xEMU.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stated: ‘What NASA has already done is invested in commercial resupply of the International Space Station […] We have invested now in commercial crew.

‘And in the first part of next year, we’re going to once again launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil for the first time since the retirement of the Space Shuttles in 2011.’

WHAT IS NASA’S ARTEMIS MISSION TO THE MOON?

Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology. 

NASA has chosen her to personify its path back to the Moon, which will see astronauts return to the lunar surface by 2024 –  including the first woman and the next man.

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars. 

Artemis 1 will be the first integrated flight test of NASA’s deep space exploration system: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  

Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed flight that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond. 

During this flight, the spacecraft will launch on the most powerful rocket in the world and fly farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown.

It will travel 280,000 miles (450,600 km) from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the Moon over the course of about a three-week mission. 

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars. This graphic explains the various stages of the mission

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars. This graphic explains the various stages of the mission

Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before. 

With this first exploration mission, NASA is leading the next steps of human exploration into deep space where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems near the Moon needed for lunar surface missions and exploration to other destinations farther from Earth, including Mars. 

The will take crew on a different trajectory and test Orion’s critical systems with humans aboard.

The SLS rocket will from an initial configuration capable of sending more than 26 metric tons to the Moon, to a final configuration that can send at least 45 metric tons. 

Together, Orion, SLS and the ground systems at Kennedy will be able to meet the most challenging crew and cargo mission needs in deep space.

Eventually NASA seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028 as a result of the Artemis mission.

The space agency hopes this colony will uncover new scientific discoveries, demonstrate new technological advancements and lay the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy. 

‘That’s going to be a really positive development for our country, but it’s going to be commercial […] And of course, we want to see a lot of robust commercial habitats in low-Earth orbit as well.’ 

‘Ultimately, what that enables us to do is then take the resources that the taxpayers give us, and go to the Moon and on to Mars, always keeping an eye on commercialization even there.’ 

‘The goal here is to expand humanity further into space than ever before.

In the Anthropometry and Biomechanics Facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, astronauts set for the moon will undergo full-body, 3D scans while performing basic motions and postures expected during spacewalks.

With a complete 3D animated model, NASA can match the astronaut to the modular space suit components that will provide the most comfort and the broadest range of motion, while reducing the potential for skin irritation where the suit might press on the body.

NASA is targeting the last half of 2024 for when humans will land near the south pole of the moon.

 

 

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