TEP - Tensioned Elastic Platforms

Find a way to adapt common gym tools for a reduced gravity environment and design a workout routine that can minimize bone and muscular loss while being fun and easy to use during a long term mission. In doing so consider constraints regarding weight (equipment should weigh less than 500kg) and dimensions. Consider incorporating virtual reality to simulate a jog through an astronaut’s favorite Earth destinations or incorporate gaming to motivate users.

As known, physical activity in space assumes essential function, considering that microgravity at International Space Station (ISS) gives a lack of gravity condition to astronauts. This fact compromises the stability of bone structure and muscle mass/potency. A routine of effective exercise combined with a regulated and balanced diet become necessary in order to meet the natural metabolic demands of each individual.

However, the space conditions still gives a great challenge to conciliate a satisfactory activity routine with the difficulties (space requirements, weight of equipment, material used, cost of equipment, limitation of astronauts movements, among others) found in space.

Having exposed the problem, we have developed a sound system capable of providing multiple movement possibilities, like: (1) monitoring / recording the correct exercise and its biological feedback for the astronaut; (2) promoting greater incentive to practice with better comfort to the astronauts; (3) adapting effective principles and methods of fitness found on Earth; (4) occupying a very small space on the ISS, using simple materials that aren't so heavy for manufacturing.

The equipment basically consists of elastics, structure in bar format, handles, velcro and mechanic tension supply motor ajusted to elastics.

Our project also includes the use of virtual reality glasses (like Oculus Rift), in order to provide a more enjoyable and comfortable experience to astronaut, so he didn’t see the practical exercises as something boring or as an obligation, but as something fun and challenging. The virtual universe could put the astronaut in various contexts, whether games, favorite landscapes of the Earth or even the astronaut's house, depending on his preference. A gamification system would be applied to virtual reality, in order to inspire the practice of exercises by astronauts with an achievement system that reward them, either virtually or physically.

In an ISS place, two mechanical tension engines would be inserted in the two "walls" (one in front and one behind) on the space station with a simple adaptation to accommodate the engines. Each wall will have two output ports for elastics, which have their removable outer end. They could use straps, Velcro or hooks for the execution of specific physical exercises.

Below the straps attached to elastics, a structure in bar shape would also have two through-holes for the elastics, and would be trapped and could be used when the astronaut wants to exercise using the bar (which would be pulled attached to elastic, with the adjusted tension). This platform would be movable (up and down), to allow exercises with both superior and inferior members.

The engine would have an electronic system able to adjust, modify and set a given tension for performing an exercise, allowing the achievement of the same activity in many different physical strengths.

Also part of the solution, we propose a sensor attached to the walls that were able to do the mapping and period monitoring through a scanner by scanning the astronaut's body and record images of astronaut exercising. Data such as bone density, heart rate, muscle mass, body temperature, blood pressure, just to say a few, would be collected by scanning and sent to a NASA center, to be used in studies and analyzes that were intended to improve the physical condition of the astronauts.

An important aspect to be mentioned is that in this project we considered the simplicity and ease of use. It could be used not only by astronauts, but also by people here on Earth, especially those with osteoporosis, for example, or malformation of the bones related problems or difficulty in muscle development.

http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/136706596374/exercisin...

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research...

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/trainlik...

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/64262main_ffs_factsheets_s...

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/64247main_ffs_factsheets_f...

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/64249main_ffs_factsheets_h...

https://github.com/SpaceApps2016/Resources