The 2009
Astronaut Glove Challenge is designed to promote the
development of glove joint technology, resulting in a
highly dexterous and flexible glove that can be used by
astronauts over long periods of time for space or
planetary surface excursions.
The challenge is intended to promote the development of
a highly dexterous and flexible glove resulting in a
monetary award to the winning Team(s).
The challenge will be conducted by Volanz Aerospace Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as "Volanz") in a format that
brings all competitors to a single location for a "head
to head" competition to determine the winning Team(s).
Each Team will be required pass a series of minimum
performance requirements (as specified in section 2.3)
and perform a variety of tasks as outlined in section
2.4 of the Official Rules. Teams will be scored on their
performance. The Team(s) that earns
the highest score will be the winner.
For the 2009 Challenge, teams must provide a complete
glove, which consists of the thermal micrometeoroid
garment (TMG), unpowered bladder and bladder-restraint
portion of the space suit that covers the hand of an
astronaut up to and including the wrist joint.
This is a significant change from the last competition.
In 2007, only the bladder and bladder-restraint portion
of the glove (inner glove pressurized layer and
restraint) was tested.
Team Agreement, prize information and competition
dates will be announced at a later time.
Eligibility:
The Competition is open to U.S.
and Foreign Participants (both individuals and
organizations, with the following restrictions:
the team leader must be a
U.S.
Citizen, and
the organization must be
either be based in the
U.S., or have offices in
the U.S.
Entry Fee:
Information will be announced
at a later date
Teams Must Provide:
Three
gloves -
For this Challenge, the Glove includes the
thermal micrometeoroid garment (TMG) layer of
the Glove (outer glove unpressurized layer), and
the unpowered, bladder and bladder-restraint
portion of the space suit that covers the hand
of an astronaut up to and including the wrist
joint and permits the control and manipulation
of objects outside the suit with functional
similarity to that of the human hand.
¨
¨All
interfaces to glove box
¨
Prizes: Prizes
will be awarded for overall First Place and Second
Place in the Challenge, and the winner of the Joint
Force Test. Prizes provided by NASA Centennial
Challenges Program.
Dexterity and
Flexibility Test:
For this test,
conducted in the Glove Box, the Competitor will
insert the full Glove (consisting of the thermal
micrometeoroid garment (TMG) layer (outer glove
unpressurized layer), and the unpowered, bladder and
bladder-restraint portion) of the Glove into the
Glove Box. The Competitor will perform thirty (30)
minutes of hand exercises (e.g., pinching and
gripping), and other manipulation dexterity tests
and tasks that will be scored based on performance.
All Tasks and Tests Will Be Timed and Scored
Glove
Capabilities/Contest Goals
¨Reduced hand
fatigue
¨Improved
manual dexterity and flexibility
¨Lighter
weight, stronger, more durable
Questions, Questions, and more Questions...
Got a question about the
competition? Send all inquiries to:
ahayes at juno.com
(take out spaces, and replace at
with a @)
Please Note: This is a new
(and temporary) email address!
2007 Astronaut Glove
Challenge
May 2007: Peter Homer, an unemployed former
aerospace engineer, claimed the first payoff in the
NASA-backed Centennial Challenges
competition by building a
better astronaut glove.
Congratulations Peter!
Technical Corner
Phase VI EVA Glove
Finger Torque Measurement
Finger torque has
historically been measured using a mechanical force gage
and a linear scale to measure the moment arm. The
figure below shows one method for measuring finger
torque on an unmanned pressurized glove. This
method has a significant level of subjectivity and care
must be taken to attain the desired range of motion
without overshooting the angle. The method should
be performed multiple times until the operator can show
consistent results. Example torque data from a
Phase VI glove without the TMG install and pressurized
to 4.3 psid is:
Index -
.6 inlbs
Middle
- .7 inlbs
Ring -
.6 inlbs
Little
- .6 inlbs
Thumb -
.8 inlbs
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