Funk, J.

Funk, N.

Gilkey, K.

Loerch, L.

Perusek, G.

Ploutz-Snyder, L.

Weaver, A.

NASA Technical Reports Server

National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration 
Advanced Exercise Concepts for Exploration 
A. Weaver,1 J. Funk,2 N. Funk,2 C . Sheehan,2 K. Gilkey,1 G. Perusek,1 L. Loerch,3 L. Ploutz-Snyder4 
1NASA Glenn Research Center, 2ZIN Technologies, 3NASA Johnson Space Center, 4Universities Space Research Association 
Challenge 
Current exercise countermeasure equipment used on the International 
Space Station will not be suitable for future exploration missions because 
of unprecedented limitations in mass, volume, and available power. 
Charter 
NASA's Human Health Countermeasures Element is tasked to provide 
guidance to groups external to NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) 
in the development of advanced exercise concepts. Currently, there are 
many design reference missions being considered, which include the 
possibility of both short- and long-duration missions. It is the goal of HRP 
to build a portfolio of potential technologies to meet the crew health 
requirements of these missions. 
Requirements 
The exercise device requirements have been constructed using years of 
NASA ground and International Space Station exercise and human physi-
ology data and are meaningful within the context of microgravity human 
health maintenance. Even with that experience, this effort is in its early 
stages, and requirements should be considered preliminary and subject 
to change if needed based on changing mission and/or scope and as the 
exercise and performance portfolio gaps are addressed. 
Reduced mass, reduced volume, and full functionality are the focus of the 
device requirements. The goal is not to restrict technology development, 
but to provide a useful guide for developers to work toward and provide 
consistent design criteria across development efforts. 
Requirements consist of general device requirements, resistive require-
ments, and aerobic requirements. 
The general device requirements encompass the physical requirements 
needed for an exercise device to fly on an exploration mission. These 
requirements include mass, stowage volume, operational volume, stowage 
and setup times, and lifecycle requirements, among others. 
The resistive requirements address the need for the exercise device to 
allow for resistive workout mechanisms. These requirements address 
specific exercises that need to be achieved (i.e. , squats, heel raises, and 
dead lifts), maximum force requirements, and adjustability, among others. 
The aerobic requirements cover specific needs the exercise device needs 
to fulfill that are related to an aerobic workout. These requirements in-
clude minimum aerobic work rates, setup and adjustment times, and 
power generation, among others. 
References 
Weaver, A., "Advanced Exercise Device Development Requirements," NASA Internal 
Document, In press, Dec. 2011. 
Weaver, A., "Digital Astronaut Project Model Selection within the Advanced Exercise Con-
cept Hardware Development Lifecycle," NASA Internal Document, In press, Jan. 2012. 
For more information please contact Aaron Weaver at aaron.s.weaver@nasa.gov. 
Acknowledgments 
The AEC team would like to acknowledge the Human Research Program for sponsoring this 
important effort. We would also like to thank John DeWitt, Nathania! Newby, John Byard, 
Chris Counts, and Robert Howard of NASA Johnson Space Center for their support on this 
project. 
www.nasa.gov 
Overview of Current Advanced Exercise Equipment 
Power-Generating Ergometer-ZIN Technologies 
Device is an adjustable load cycle ergometer 
utilized in NASA Desert Research and Technology 
Studies in 2008 to 201 0. 
Cam Air Spring Device-ZIN Technologies 
Gas Spring Device-ZIN Technologies 
Device primarily focuses on high load 
resistive exercises with a secondary 
focus to provide a means for aerobic 
exercise. 
Powered Options for Pneumatic 
Exercise Devices-ZIN Technologies 
Device uses a high pressure air source 
and less than 5W of power with digital 
control of load set points. 
NSBRI Combined Countermeasure Device 
PI: Thomas Lang 
Device combines balance and coordination 
training with resistance exercises designed 
to target specific muscle groups at the hip 
and lower extremity. 
Inertia Wheel Exercise Device 
Wyle Laboratories 
Device is designed to allow both 
aerobic and resistance exercise 
with no external power utilizing 
a flywheel and two pulley-belt 
systems housed in an aluminum 
enclosure. 
Variable Load Device 
Device is designed as a modular, scalable bench 
top unit to provide near-perfect-linear loading 
with a cam profile designed to produce a constant 
torque output from the varying piston force. 
Eccentric to Concentric (E:C) Overload 
Assist Device-ZIN Technologies 
Device combines the benefits of a pas· 
sive system, providing near-linear loads 
at a range of values, with the ability 
to add an E:C overload aspect to the 
exercise. 
Dual Gas Spring Device-ZIN Technologies 
Device builds off gas spring technology to 
utilize two identical devices allowing for 
increased resistive loads, two cable outputs, 
and increased resolution at low loads. 
Servomotor Device Streamline Automation 
(SBIR Phase 2)-PI: Stelu Deaconu 
Device is a servo-motor based system with 
closed-loop force feedback control that sim-
ulates the inertial component of 'free 
weights' and has a user-selectable eccentric 
overload. 
NSBRI Flywheel "Multi-Mode Exercise Device" 
PI: Greg Adams 
Device provides endurance and resistance exer· 
cise training and has proven effective in increas· 
ing work capacity and muscle size and strength 
in the lower leg and thigh at low exercise doses. 
lnnocentive Challenge Solver Concept 
PI : Jeff Davis 
Device utilizes a vacuum cylinder 
with epicyclic gearing to generate 
NASA JSC Software Robotics and Simulation Division 
Device provides the equivalent of an entire set of weights in a 
breadbox-sized package and is capable of weight and inertia 
simulation and rowing-type exercises. 
-----------' variable resistive loads. 
Miniature Exercise Device 
NASA JSC Software Robotics and 
Simulation Division 
Device will demonstrate key motion 
system concepts utilizing the joint 
technology from NASA's Robonaut. 
Linear Magneto-Rheologic Device 
NASA JSC Software Robotics and 
Simulation Division 
Utilizes an exoskeleton using linear 
magnetic rheological fluid dampers 
at the joints. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20150010179 2019-08-31T07:44:47+00:00Z


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