Design development discussion of primate support system for Biosatellit

Hall, J. F., Jr.

English

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TIIZZ:	 DEVELOPMENT OF PAYLOAD SUBSYSTEM -
PRIMATE MISSION -
BIOSATELL.ITE PROGRAM
.AUTHOR:	 James F. Hall, Jr., Supervising Engineer
"Life Support Unit
General Electric Company
Re-entry and Environmental Systems Division
ABSTRACT:
The Primate, Biosatellite, Experiment, Payload Subsystem consists of
goverment furnished equipment interface conve ys;.­-  and prinx to support
equipment (PSE) supply by GE. Desk *+ davPlonmeut discussions are limited
to the PSE as listed. 4/ ..*740 - c2Xe2
IACC63610M NUM®aRl	 ITFiRU)
CO1. Pellet Feeder Assemt t-
	
62. Water Dispenser Asse R	 T^
40-MA CR OR TMX OR AD Mn 6R	 (CATEGORY)
3. Feces Collector Asse
4. Trace Gas Contaminant uoutroi Assemosy 	 -'
5. Camera Assembly
t	 T i..1.i•4-- Aoeremhl -ss
7. Camera /Lighting Controller
g . Primate Life Support Controller
9. Couch Assembly
PSIS design concepts were studied, reviewed in detail with the customer,
detailed component requirements formulated and competent designs completed.
This paper is based on National Aeronautics and Space Administration CR73424
prepared for Ames Research Center under contract NW-1900.
A. INT DJCTION
1. PROs - As part of GE-RESD ' s contract on USA-ARC 's Biosatell.ite
Q	 Program, the life support unit was faced with a challenge. The
k +	 challenge was to develop fli t hardware wMeh would provide the
ApR slo	 life support functions necessary to sustain a very inquisitive
and manually dexterous (in retrospect) macaw nemoestrina monkey
during a 30 day . earth orbital space flight. Basically, the func-
tions required to be supplied by the exper*wnt payload subsystem
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^^c'OZ60.^^ti^ 	 are listed in the .following.
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1.1 Provide sustenance - food and water
1..2 Provide selected waste management - feces,'ammonia, carbon
monoxide and other trace gases.
1.? Provide day and night cycle lighting (circadian rhythm reference)
1.4 Take single frame and motion pictures of the primate during
both clay and night periods and all mission phases.
1.5 Provide structural support for the restrained primate, blood
pressure experiment equipment and physiological sensor signal
conditioners txkrough all mission phases.
1.6 Provide control for the regulation of the previous functions in
accordance with preprogrammed experimemtt events.
Another problem which appeared throughout gore subsystem development
was the unanticipated extent of the monkey's inquisitiveness, manual
dexterity, tenacity and ingenuity when left ,alone with complicated
equipment for long periods of time. It was tti.e result of this
tampering which constituted the unique challenge in the development
of the subsystem equipment.
Some of the feats which these monkeys accomplished would have made
Houdini proud.
2. POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS - Many of the functional requirements could have
w	 been satisfied through the use of various egpuipments -which performed
the same function. However, since the development schedule was
short, consideration of off-the-shelf hardwawe, where possible,
limited the possibilities considerably. Evem so, many trade-offs
were required. Examples of two of the more lbasic ones are dis-
cussed in the following.
2.1 Provide Sustenance - Here the choice ways between liquid and
solid food. Water could either be mixed with the food, stored
or obtained from the power system fuel rcell,by-product water.
2.2 Provide Lighting - Basically the choicer was between fluorescent
or incandescent sources. More subtly, ttrade-offs among multiple
lamps, panel lights, direct lighting, spot lighting, voltage
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variation, special purpose lamps an`;lor lamp switching had
to be made to result in a proper lighting arrangement.
B. DISCUSSION
1. SUBSYSTEM DEFINITION
The previously discussed and many other trade-offs were made and some
will be discussed in fallowing sections. The trade-offs and sub-
sequent design and development resulted in the Biosatellite Primate
Experiment Payload Subsystem consisting of the following primate
support equipment (PSE) which was supplied by GE RESD.
1.1 Pellet Feeder Assembly
1.2 Water Dispenser Assembly
1.3 Feces Collector Assembly
1.4 Trace Gas Contaminant-Control Assembly
1..,3 Camera Assembly
1.6 Lighting Assembly
1_7 Cameraftiehting Controlle=
1.8 Frintiate •.Life Sport Controller
1.9 Couch assembly
The subsystem is a collection of assemblies unified in operation by
tha monkey and in function by the life support controller. See
	
,, 1
f3^vgre 1.
2. EMPMM DETAILS
I&e following jNmgraphs describe in-more detail the features of the
subs ea egnipaat and in a=w areas the degree of primate induced
raafignration and function definition.
2.1 ?=DISPENSER (PELLET FEEDER) ASSEMBLY -
As previously mentioned, solid vs liquid food trade-offs were
smde.' Various factors including equipment` availability .led to
the solection of a solid food pellet dispenser. The pellets
L
	 v+ere attached to a non-toxic adhesive tape much like, the old
candy buttons on waxed paper.  To provide redundancy and minimise
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L- — — -- — — — — -- — — —	 — _	
CAM E I NG
LIGH T 1 NG
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I	 TO T/M PELLET
^-- — — — — —	 FEEDER
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1 A55, Y
HEM. CANT
	
CABIN AIR	 CABIN AIR .
	
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1	 PUTLE Tj
TO Wif U F--PASiTI cU LATE 1
	
MTOR
	
FILTER INLET
MUGENENT A 55EA#&.Yj
PR 1 MMATE
FE Sl1PPOiRT
CONTROLLER
FROM SPACECRAFT	 r 1
-	
AN u oVv c.?N M r N' i	 - - - - - - - --^ ^- - - - -^•• TO TELr.. METR [ (TIM)
FURK'Sk ED E®UIPMEAlr (8PiE).
-KEY
ELECT. LINE -- — — —
"'lUl D LINE
A5S' Y BORDER
COMPONENT
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FRI MATE SUET U___ II^N^EIII^PUN)
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packaging volu*e, eight pellet reel assemblies were provided.
(See Figure 2) The machine was basically-a mechanical design.
Although arm, lock and unlock functions were solenoid initiated;
pellet counting was switch indicated, and monkey cueing was
via incandescent lamps, all other functions were mechanically
accomplished through the use of primate power. An electrical
signal armed the feeder and the cue light lit. The monkey re-
sponded to the light: by pushing the handle. The handle shaft
drove a geneva and tape sprocket. These in turn indexed to
the next.reel and pulled the pellet and tape from the supply
reel. The tape passed on to a take-up reel while the pellet
- was stripped off and projected through the pellet slot.  A s
the pellet moved into the slot., it raised a gate and tripped
a switch which was counted and registered in the life support
controller for 'later monitor from the ground via telemetry.
The monkey managed to impart his inf lueme on the design of
 the pellet dispenser-through two primary factors. First his
physiological limitations imposed a limit on the amount
of force-required to operate the machine. Sec c id ly ire cau6cd
through his persistent tampering what came to be known as the
2-for-1 problem. After many higher primates, the author in-
cluded, deemed the design complete, it was turned over to the
monkey. He very quickly Darned that by judiciously working
the handle niter receiving one pellet he could get a second
'before the mechanism disarmed. These and several other prob-
lems led to the redesign of the machine.
1	 A =3,atively equal blend of mechanical and electrical design
disciplines were used to solve the feeder problems. The
solenoids were removed and their functions were performed by
at single motor and mechanism. The motor also provided the
force required to dispense the pellet, and the monkey's in-
volvement was reduced to , tripping a switch with the feeder
handle actuation. All. other features, including the mechanical
and electrical interfaces to the system were identical. As a
fringe benefit:, the feeder could -be ground initiated to dia- 	 •
pease a pellet independent of the monkey. This feature was
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useful several times during the actual flikht of Biosat-
ellite III.
2.2 WATER DISPENSER ASSEMBLY - Treated fuel cell by-product water
was selected ai^ a drinking water supply to minimize system
vsight and storAge volume raquireaenta..
The primate's influe=e on the design is indicated in
figure 1. The initial design had one solenoid to shut-off the
supply. The primates learned that the noise of the supply
solenoid signified water flow into the water dispenser. They
became eery proficient at cueing to the solenoid click, ob-
.Ui'ning more water than was intended and thereby destroying
'the water measurenent . accuracy. As a result, a nipple solenoid
_ ,and r+e1atead eleettonics were: added to close the nipple solenoid
before opening the supply solenoid and keep the nipple closed
_until the supply solenoid had reclossed. The monkey then ob-
ZaimmCi WaLe.L by ou-.'kLd* vu `1m ►11pplz	 k+ZZ.o •
serve denaud regulator allowing water to flow and causing the
_Da.zibI* bell.ofrem to collapse.
As' rave	 conta ' and assiv!& U U1 fixed contacts and a lec -
~tronics, im conjunction with -the life support controller and
^. GlR; progranwr initiated the,-fill cycle. The water dispenser
eras monitored by the life support controller which registered
^tM water jguautitq for Tatar .prasesntation to the ground via
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	 .te.lemeta^,r.
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strina physiological, features. Since the couch had to support
the restrained monkey, monkey body dinansion ranges, including
urine and .faces envelope interfaces, were required. A limited
..2.3 72MS C®LLBCTCB AND COUCH ASSRSLY-
Of alr the subsystem equipment, the feces collector and couch
assemblies were most-sensitive to. the range of llacaca neme-
0n
. W 'a_
Bowever, a body measurement matrix was defined and a
National Aeronautics Space Admin., Amen Research Center and
G&-RESD team obtained the ne ce s nary inf orma t i on .
In addition to the restrained primate and as shown in figure 3,
the couch supported than Univ. of Southern California blood
pressure experiment heparin supply, pumps, transducers, and
signal conditioners. It also provided support for trite -Jniv.
-of Calif. at Los Angeles physiological sensor signal condi-
tioner. And last but not least the ct►uch supported the feces
collector. The collector provided the container for the heparin
bags and support for the urine catheter line in addition to its
primary function of feces collection.
The feces collector performed its function well when pre-
sented with formed stools through the use of a 1 CFM air
f low provided by the spacecraft ' s gas management assembly
(GM®) . (See Figure 1.) The air flow provided the force to
..mve-then feces into the can, prevent odor leakage (suction
aide of fan), and dried the feces for storage and analysis
upon recowry. The air was passed through a se.ective gas/
liquid ' separator membrane and a bacteria filter.
2.4 TRACE-GAS WNTAMNANT CONTROL CANISTER - Similar to the feces
gce►l.lectar `the trace as contaminant control canister was located
-an the suction side of the ( . Flow was set at approximately
.200 cc/min to beep the ammonia (NH3) and carbon monixide (CO)
lv%,^Ts wfthin specification limits. Amberlyst was used for NH3
absorption and hopcalite was used to oxidize CO to CO2. The
CO2 was then passed to the GMA for absorption in the LION.
(See figures 1 and 4.)	 •
.2.5 LIGHTING AND CAMERA ASSEM.BLIES AND , CAMM/LIGHTING- CWTROLLER °
(See Figure 1.)
Incandescent lamps were selected over fluorescent lamps pri
mat<rily because of the concern early in the prograah over 'noiee
effects on the-primate head sensors. (The lights vere in the
' head.) The light assemblyhad tovicinity of t^ primate s
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perform two functions, first, provide a day and night cir-
cadian rhythm reference for the , monkey and, 'second, provide
enough light for day and night photos.
The primate's influence on this design was found in the color of
the light. It was determined that a 30 tol day tonight light intmMity
(foot candles) change was required to insure a proper day to
night reference for the monkey. A rathsr clever solution to this
requirement was provided by taking adva Cage of the difference
U,., tween the monkey's eye and the fila t s response to light wave
lengths. Since the monkey was less sensitive than the film was
to.the red light region, a red filter was added to the night
light. This provided greater than 30 to 1 (theoretically
greater than 100 to 1) day to night light illumination ratio
. while providing enough light for high resolution photos at
both day and night light levels and at one camera lens setting.
^t►ela t.,ya rs^va s. + ad ^, onp fov eiav and onp fnr ni asht
AV'.  lighting. - Bach light housing contained two bulbs, a primary
bulb and-a.redundant bulb. Only one bulb was lit at any given
time. Fiber optic bundles were routed from the light assembly
to a . MA- t, IRT furnished c-i1.aT_•dax clock. This clock provided
.,	 the day, ho+ur., minute and second record on the film.
A flight qua3.ifLed pulse camera was used to take 16mm single
r frame or movie's (4 frezoes per second) during all mission phases
-An. preprogrammed or °ground commanded. Thin base, high speed,
black and white fibs; was used.
Both the light and camera sequences were controlled by the
camera/lighting controller in conjunction with the life support
cmtroller and government . furnished programmer.
.2.6 IM SUPPORT OONTROLLER'- As identified in the preceeding sec-
tions. , the life support controller unifies the functions of the
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...	 v°.,.. -4:.	 •_.^S.a7.nuez+.R:r^^ Xcl`:Y.[2^t^ k`t/^77^t Sir:
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subsystem. The significant feature iu its development was
the compilation of many individual component controller and
monitor functions.into one component with the resulting size,
weight, complexity, interfacing and cost reductions.
C. CONCLUSION
It was recognized from past experience that design of equipment which
had a substantial man /machine interface was more difficult than non-
man-related equipment. This is due to the large variations in physiology
from one person to another and the range of subjective reaction to the
same stimulus, that is, the psychological variation of individuals. You
are faced with an even greater challenge when these facts are coupled with
the need to design for a monkey:	 1. who is expending every u
ounce of his ingenuity in tampering with the equipment without concern
for the .various possible results on his vane safety and /or well being	 a
4j
and, 2. who is unable to provide routine support tasks or trouble
shooting and repair.
Such-was 11 a challeuge which was faced and successfully met through the
coordinated and dedicated efforts of the IQASA-ARC, Experimenters (UCLA, USC,
Univ. of Calif. at 7Berkley, Jet' .Propulsion _laboratory, Texas Women's
Univ..,,- Harbor General Hospital) and GB-ZRESD. teaw.
D. MWG
The experiment payload subsystem operated through the system performance
tests and flight mission profile without failure or serious incident. In
fact vwmmy of the assemblies exceeded 'their requirements by continuing to
perform to specification following re-entry and water impact environments.
Specialthanks is .given to Mr. Charles Wilson, Biosatellite project
Manager, NASA-ARC, for the conaideration he has given to this paper.
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Development of payload subsystem, Primate mission, Biosatellite program

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