Scales modified for use on board the human centrifuge in the MIT Man Vehicle Lab

The MIT Man Vehicle Lab (MVL) is currently performing research on the effects of rotational artificial gravity on humans through the use of a short-radius centrifuge. The MVL centrifuge allows subjects to spin in the supine position with their heads at the center of rotation and their feet facing outwards. To collect information regarding actual forces experienced by a subject while on the centrifuge, a set of scales was designed specifically to measure the equivalent of the human body's weight in artificial gravity. These were mounted on board a stair stepper exercise device to measure the forces exerted at the feet of subjects while exercising. Exercise is particularly important in preventing microgravity-induced deconditioning of the body and without exercise a deconditioned subject might not be able to withstand the stress of experiencing artificial gravity. The primary focus of the research is to gain a better understanding of the overall effects resulting from artificial gravity on humans and eventually to alleviate undesirable ones. The Contek WCS-20® bathroom scale was redesigned to fit on board the stair stepper device on the centrifuge and to safely and securely measure the forces exerted by each foot of a subject while exercising.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Samuelson, Heather Marie

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Laurence R. Young.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36703

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/36703