Novel spacesuit boot design developed from dynamic foot shape modeling

摘要

Future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars will require spacesuits that allow astronauts to walk safely and comfortably. Gas-pressurized spacesuits limit the operator's motion, resulting in mismatch between the operator's and spacesuit's dynamic motions (Fineman et al., 2018). Foot trauma and a mismatch known as heel-lift, where the operator's heel lifts inside the boot during heel-off (Figure 1), have been reported during walking trials. This could lead to bruising on the foot dorsum or over-extension of the ankle. A better-fitting spacesuit boot design is needed for planetary surface exploration. Foot shape changes during gait (Grau & Barisch-Fritz, 2018). Modelling foot shape changes can inform the design of a better-fitting spacesuit boot that properly secures the foot as it transitions through heel-off, avoiding heel-lift. However, there is no clear framework for implementing such modelling techniques into footwear design.