Bionic adhesive shoes and in-orbit test for lower limb bone muscle exercise under weightless conditions
The low-earth-orbit space station serves as humanity's foray into the universe exploration and a research platform to study the effects of the space environment on human behavior and health.It is well-documented that weightlessness significantly impairs bone and muscle function and maintenance,with mechanical stimulation under gravity being crucial for maintaining these functions.However,existing in-orbit equipment fails to deliver sufficient stimulation to lower limb flexors.Inspired by animals'adhesion on solid surfaces,especially the structural attachment of the gecko and Beaufortia,we proposed a new method to facilitate the exercise and protection of astronauts'lower limb muscles in a weightless environment.Bionic adhesive shoes with variable stiffness and adhesion units were developed,and ground-based and in-orbit performance tests were performed.The bionic adhesive shoes are designed to securely attach under minimal pre-pressure,enabling the exercise of lower limb muscles during stepping.The design leverages the low modulus of gecko bristles to improve their surface roughness adaptability while also incorporating the adhesive structure observed in Beaufortia to improve adhesion and stability.Ground-based and space-based in-orbit experiments showed that these bionic adhesive shoes exhibit low preload requirements and strong adhesion capabilities,thereby facilitating effective force stimulation of lower limb muscles.This innovative bionic technology represents a significant advancement in the maintenance of astronauts in conditions of weightlessness.
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