Wearable Sensor System for Quantifying Proprioceptive Competence in Microgravity

Microgravity poses a significant challenge for our neurovestibular and proprioceptive systems. Past spaceflight and parabolic research have shown degraded movement control upon microgravity exposure and adaptation of performance with time. However, most research does not address the functional, dynamic, whole-body movements we expect in spaceflight. In particular, as commercial microgravity experiences become ubiquitous, maladapted proprioceptive systems in novice flyers pose risks to themselves, other crew members, and expensive spacecraft equipment. We propose a framework to assess proprioceptive competence (introduced and defined in this thesis) through the metric of fluidity, a biomechanical property often used in medical rehabilitation and functional gait assessment. We designed, built, and pilot tested a wearable sensor system capable of inertial motion capture in the parabolic flight environment. Through comparing whole-body joint fluidity in translation movements done in 1-g and microgravity, we found evidence suggesting an increased fluidity upon entry into microgravity and increased fluidity throughout microgravity exposure.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Lin, Shu-Yu (Michelle)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Arquilla, Katya

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
• Copyright retained by author(s)

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/151558

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/151558