Technology Development and Systems Tests of a Next-Generation Suit Simulator for Analog Field Trials

摘要

Growing interest in human planetary exploration has spawned a renewed interest in analog field trials, focused on lunar andMars exploration. Extravehicular activity plays amajor role in the operations and science returns fromsuchmissions, and is a critical element for Earth-based simulations. The challenges of performing full-duration EVA simulations in Earth gravity argue against the use of pressurized suits, but instead using suit simulators to create a more realistic "weight on back" for the test subjects while still approximating the bulk and restriction of a pressurized suit. Higher-fidelity suit simulators also provide environmental isolation, which is mandatory for long-duration simulations such as HI-SEAS. This paper details the continued development and testing of the MX-D suit, a fourth-generation suit simu- lator developed at the University of Maryland. In the past year, a number of systems were entirely redesigned to increase safety and self-reliance for the MX-D wearer, with the goal of enabling a full six-hour nominal EVA in all field conditions. The MX-D provides ventilation air and thermal cooling to the wearer, along with computerized system operation and monitoring. The suit is self-donned and doffed in nominal operations. Batteries for suit operations have been reduced in size and relocated to the front torso, where the wearer can change out batteries without help or loss of suit power. A new solid-state cooling system has been developed and integrated into the backpack to provide cooling limited only by availability of battery power. Lightweight bearings created by additive manufacturing have been incorporated into arm soft goods to provide more real- istic representations of current and future EVA suits. The paper summarizes component development, as well as initial systems integration and testing results, along with field testing plans.