SpaceSkin - development of aerospace-grade electronic textile　for simultaneous protection and high velocity impact　characterization

摘要

This paper introduces the concept of an aerospace-grade electronic textile and summarizes design studies andearly prototype development for on-fabric hypervelocity impact characterization. Whereas most damage detectiontechnologies for aerospace systems rely on enhancements to the structure's inner shell, the outermostprotective skin of a space habitat or a spacesuit - traditionally a woven fabric - is directly exposed to the relevantenvironment. Therefore, we propose weaving sensory bers into traditional brous aerospace skins for directmeasurement of local conditions, yielding a material that can simultaneously sense and protect. Specically,this paper documents design considerations for multifunctional Beta cloth, in which piezoelectric yarn is directlywoven into Teon-coated berglass, the material used as the outermost skin of the International Space Station.A review of hypervelocity plasma generation then motivates a strawman design for on-textile plasma charge andRF emission sensing, which may be useful for further characterization of hypervelocity impactors. An aerospacegradeelectronic textile is distinct from a traditional e-textile in that it must be validated not only for its sensingcapabilities but also for its robustness to hazards presented in a space environment.