System for description of movements and positions facilitates design of space suits with more mobility. This measurement and notation system gives concise and unequivocal descriptions, compatible with engineering analysis and applicable to specific needs

Roebuck, J. A., Jr.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

May 1967	 Brief 67-10114 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Integrated Mobility Measurement and Notation System 
In order to design a space suit to best afford use 
of man's mobility capability within strict geometric 
limits, it is necessary to derive accurate determina-
tions of a man's potential expendable speed, force, 
and range of movement while wearing both pres-
surized and unpressurized space suits. In a ventilated 
condition, the current Gemini space suit presents only 
a few specific mobility restrictions since the material 
is somewhat limited as to sleeve length and general 
coverage. However, when pressurized to relatively 
nominal levels above ambient, the suit poses some 
very severe mobility limitations. While several studies 
have been made and reported using various data 
derivations involving differing systems of notation 
based on diverse mobility measurement methods, no 
single set of sources has synthesized a complete, 
integrated system of movement identification, meas-
urement technique and specification applicable to 
pressurized space suit mobility. 
A tentative solution to the problem has been 
reached by a committee of aerospace personnel that 
has employed empirical methods to derive a synthesis 
of an integrated mobility measurement and notation 
system based on the following requirements: 
(I) The system of description of movement and 
position should be compatible with common methods 
of engineering analysis, such as engineering drafting 
layouts, trigonometric analysis, and machine compu-
tations. It should be capable of extreme abbreviation 
and use of "shorthand" nomenclature, as in mathe-
matics. 
(2) The system of description of movements and 
positions should be clear, precise, concise and un-
equivocal, and readable. It should be related to
common experience and stereotypes of description 
where feasible, but not necessarily dependent upon 
earth-bound conceptions. 
(3) The descriptions of measurement techniques 
for joint and limb positions should be clear, simple, 
and reproducible. The measurement techniques should 
use a minimum of special equipment to accomplish 
the job. 
(4) The system as a whole should be capable of a 
wide range of detail and accuracy of description ac-
cording to the specific need. It should be sufficiently 
general and flexible to be used as a structure for 
extensive growth in number and type of space suits. 
It should permit refinement of detailed studies of 
specified joint motions, or extension to complex move-
ment descriptions where necessary, and yet retain use 
of gross simplifications where appropriate. 
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: B67-101 14 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: J. A. Roebuck, Jr. 
of North American Aviation, Inc. 
under contract to 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
(MSC-726) 
Category 04 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000114 2020-03-11T20:46:11+00:00Z


Integrated mobility measurement and notation system

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