WO2023086991A2 - System for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module and device for inducing gravity-like effects in space habitats - Google Patents

Abstract

A novel method has been proposed for implementing artificial gravity in the micro-gravity environment of space habitats (or other space environments). This will allow a number of human activities and services performed in an environment that resemble that on Earth, and additionally produce g-force of other environments (such as Moon, Mars, etc.) as required for certain experiments and/or services such as acclimating to a new g-force while in transit to another planetary body. Additionally, we presented a method and system to generate induced pseudo-gravity in selected modules leveraging magnetic elements both in wearables and on selected surfaces (floors, seats, beds, etc.) of the module, allowing in Low Earth Orbit, normal gestures like sitting, standing-up or lying-in bed.

Description

System for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module and device for inducing gravity-like effects in space habitats

Field of the invention

The invention described herein presents methods and systems for creating artificial gravity in certain habitational modules in space stations (other microgravity environments in space) and induced gravity effects in selected modules.

Background of the invention and technical problem to be solved

Generally speaking, the way to produce artificial gravity in a Space Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment would be by means of an angular rotation of the defined habitat at a number of revolutions per minute. Thus, existing ideas related to artificial gravity are based on angular rotation of large structures, e.g., cylinder habitats, of a very large diameter, of over 200 meters to achieve near Earth gravity in the inner area of the cylinder.

The relation between radius, rotational speed (in terms of revolutions per minute) and achievable “g”, from different public sources, are summarized in Figure 1.

Experiments have demonstrated that in order to avoid serious health issues in humans (sickness and headaches associated to the Coriolis effect), the ideal radius of the rotational circle should be greater than 200 meters. Current habitational modules as those of the ISS (International Space Station) have moderate diameters (of just a few meters). In the current state of the art of space stations it is not possible to achieve artificial gravity without causing unwanted negative medical problems. Thus, the proposed invention provides a novel method of solving a problem, for which no practical solutions exist today. For there to be artificial gravity, a space station would need to be 400m in diameter which would be far greater than any practical station made at this point. To do so would require either a rocket launcher fairing capable of sending a prebuilt module of this size, which is thus far, orders of magnitude bigger than any planned launchers, or a module that is expandable to this size which is also orders of magnitude larger than any expandable module envisioned and would still not be able to fit in its compact state within the fairing envelope of current or planned rocket launcher fairings. The other possibility would be to assemble such a large structure in space, but to do so would require On Orbit Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM) far beyond anything currently being done, especially since on orbit welding is still in the discovery phases. Lastly, such a large volume if able to be created in space would require an impractical amount of volume to be filled with oxygen for humans to live in, create an enormous volume cross surface area which would need micrometeorite and space debris protection, require huge amounts of propellant for station to keep its orbit and to do defensive maneuvers to avoid impacts from space debris. All of which adds to the impracticality of such a system and only leaves the option for a tethered system as we describe to function safely.

Description of the invention

It is object of the invention a system for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module that comprises a tether attached to a Space station at one end, and to a habitational module at the other end, additional balance masses configured to compensate for the dragging effects of the extra centripetal force generated by the habitational module attached to the tether, and means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module, where the tether has a length between 200 and 1 ,000 meters. Length could be reduced if mimicking, for example, Moon’s gravity, and could be larger than 1 ,000 meter if reproducing gravity of heavier planets.

In the system for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module of the invention the means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module comprises a propulsion vehicle service.

In the system for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module according of the invention the means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module comprises at least one thruster incorporated in the habitational module.

The system for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module of the invention comprises a pressurized elevator configured to move along the tether, having a first docking port at the end connected to the habitational module and a second docking port at the end connected to the Space station.

It is another object of the invention a device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment for people using shoes and clothes where the Habitat comprises at least floor, seats, bed's matrix, tables and walls, where the shoes and clothes comprise magnetic spots, grains, or dots which are embedded and/or attached the shoes and clothes; the space habitat comprises magnetic elements on at least one of floor, seats, bed's matrix, tables, walls; such that the magnetic spots, grains, or dots works in conjunction with the magnetic elements implemented in the space habitat providing a stable temporary union due to the attraction of either both magnetic elements of opposite polarity or ferromagnetic metal and magnetic elements.

The device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment of the invention can comprise floor magnets implemented with electromagnets, so the magnetic field is easily turned off and on as desired.

The device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment of the invention can comprise a lighting system configured to highlight a path defined in the floor.

The device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in environment of the invention can comprise a plurality of sensors configured to read the proximity of an RFID type transponder located within the clothes or shoe and activate the electromagnets.

In an alternative embodiment of the device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment, it comprises a plurality of environment cameras complemented with a plurality of sensors in the shoe, such that the environment cameras track a position of person and the sensors tracks the position and orientation to the floor.

In the device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment of the invention the magnetized spots or particles can be located in an additional layer of the textile of the clothes.

Brief drawings description

Figure 1 shows a graphic of the rotation speed of a centrifuge with a given g-force.

Figure 2 shows a habitational module attached to a tether.

Figure 3 shows a service vehicle with propulsion capabilities docked onto a habitational module. Figure 4 shows a representation of the system for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a view of a Space station with a tether attached to the said Space station.

Figure 6 shows a representation of a pressurized elevator used for transfer from habitational module in the Space station towards the service module.

Figure 7 shows a representation of three humans standing in a Space habitat, thanks to the magnetization of their shoes’ sole, which allows a stable fixation to the floor as long as following the predefined magnetic paths.

Figure 8 shows a representation of the sole of a shoe with magnets incorporated therein.

Figure 9 shows a human sitting on a seat using the effect of magnetic elements attached to the clothes.

Figure 10 shows an example of the location of multiple magnetic elements in a Space habitat.

Figure 11 shows a representation of a person sleeping in normal Earth-like conditions, by means of the magnetic elements embedded on the bed matrix and pajamas clothes.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The invention is a system comprising four basic elements, which when combined, can produce artificial gravity. The system comprises a propulsion service vehicle (1) plus a robust tether (2) attached to a Space station (3) at one end, and to a habitational module (4) at the other end.

The system is as follows: attached to a Space station (3) there is an external payload consisting of a deployable robust tether (2) with lengths between 200 and 1 ,000 meters. The tether (2) is connected to a habitational module (4) as illustrated in Figure 2.

In a preferred embodiment the Space station is a Space station (3). The habitational module (4) can be, in turn, docked to a service vehicle (1) with propulsion capabilities that is configured to provide a specific impulse to the habitational module (4) (see fig. 3).

There is a station-keeping related balance impulse and force, to compensate for the dragging effects of this extra centripetal force. Doing so will reduce/remove the strain on the space station. It is done using well studied algorithms for station keeping dynamic compensation. Balancing of the forces requires a counterweight (with an equal and opposite force) so the period (T) remains equal, and minimum disturbance to the Space station (3) is produced. The balance of forces results in a net zero force and torque on the station arm. This balance of forces can be reached with the addition of a second or more module (4) evenly spaced on the circular orbit so long as the periods of all masses are equal. The additional balance masses do not need to be modules themselves as long as the mass of the counterweight balances out. Force balance is needed to avoid the possibility that the station's arm enters into a vibrational resonance frequency.

It is possible that the tethered orbiting habitational module (4) can cause a noticeable precession of the space station due to the gyroscope effect it can cause. This precession can be allowed to occur thus having the station rotating about its axes or it can be counterbalanced itself via the already present gyroscopes on the station used for normal operations. If many modules are being used and the precession is greater than desired, additional habitations modules (4) can be placed in similar (but opposite directional force) tethered orbits on the other 2 arms to negate the precession by having an overall net zero (0) force on the space station. Additionally, if no more tethered orbits are required, the precession can still be negated with the addition of extra gyroscopes at the end of the other 2 arms. If the system described is used on a space station with additional arms, the same principle can be applied to negate the forces so that there is no precession of the Space station (3).

This invention also includes the possibility to have a single habitational module (4), with its own propulsion capability included, so the concept generally considers a module with propulsion capability attached to a tether (2), which in turn is attached to the Space station (3).

Once the tether (2) is deployed at a certain length, the service vehicle (1) starts to apply impulse to the habitational module (4), which moves along a circular path due to the solidarity union (dock) with the propulsion vehicle (1) as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This movement can be planned at a pace of more than 2 rpm (revolutions per minute), so humans inside the habitational module (4) experiences artificial gravity close to that of Earth (or adjusted for other desired g-value, for example to mimic gravity on the Moon’s surface).

By playing with the deployed length (extension) of the tether (2) in conjunction with the specific impulse provided by the service propulsion vehicle (1) (in terms of revolution per minute), different strengths of g-force can be achieved. The module (4) with artificial gravity allows normal human activity, providing a similar environment as that of Earth. The invention also allows for a range of induced gravity for experiments of desired duration to test various gravity levels like those of the Moon, Mars, Venus, Asteroids, Jupiter's moons like Europa, etc., thus allowing a broad and extensive range of gravitational strength for testing gravity’s long-term effects in humans, animals, plants, etc. Furthermore, the g-force can be varied slowly over time to allow astronauts to become gradually accustomed to the gravity of another celestial body on their journey to it. Such as a return trip from Mars to Earth after an extended stay. This allows the astronauts to gradually recover and once again become accustomed to the higher gravity experienced on Earth versus that felt on Mars. Moreover, the invention enables many services and applications in Low Earth Orbit that can only be provided in potentially giant space stations with enormous radii and angular rotation.

This invention may be combined with a pressurized elevator (5) moving back and forth in a linear fashion along the tether, having docking ports at both ends (space station and module) to allow an always pressurized environment for humans. This allows for a permanent service module with Earth-like gravity, that uses a pressurized carrier between the space station and the module to transport humans. This allows for the provision of luxury services in space. Figure 6 shows the concept of a carrier to allow on demand advanced services provisioning.

The service idea is that the carrier deploys its humans & cargo to the habitational module (4) prior to the start of its rotational movement. In addition to a carrier moving up & down the tether, this invention also claims a more general approach, before the start of the impulse by the RVSV or similar vehicle, the elevator (5) can be utilized to move from the station towards the docking port on the service module and only after that movement is complete could the impulse begin to build up the centripetal force to induce artificial gravity. The concept of operations is that tether (2) and the habitational module (4) have its rest position in idle mode, that is no circular movement, and they will be started upon demand, that is when humans are inside the habitational module (4) to receive the required artificial gravity services. When not active, all the elements like water from the pool, tables in the restaurant, etc., would be kept properly locked (to avoid spread due to microgravity) by proper deployable walls (water in the pool) or attached to the floor (tables and chairs).

There is a vast array of luxury services which could be provided to humans in artificial gravity pressurized service modules including pool, spa, high-quality restaurants, garden plus cupola relaxing area, or hospital for surgery.

The invention also proposes a device to allow humans to walk, sit and stand up normally like on Earth, when they are in Low Earth Orbit (or other microgravity environments of interest) space habitats under micro-gravity.

This is achieved by means of using specially designed shoes (6) and clothes (7) (pants, gloves, shirts, pajamas...), which will have embedded and/or attached magnetic spots, grains, or dots. These magnetic spots, grains, or dots work in conjunction with special magnetic elements (8) implemented in the space habitat that allows a stable temporary union due to the attraction of either both magnetic elements of opposite polarity or ferromagnetic metal and magnetic elements (the first on the human’s clothing and/or shoes (6), etc., and the other on selected surfaces on the habitat).

Thus, the several magnetic elements (8) such as strips, dots, tiles, and paths as desired on selected surfaces (floor, seats, bed's matrix, tables, walls, etc.) allow adequate human movement. Having only magnetic floor/seats/beds in predefined locations minimizes any risk of interference or influence to avionics as they can be configured to be sufficiently far from any counter-desired electronics.

Both the magnetized strips and paths in the floors, clothes (7), and shoes (6) are properly designed to allow stable temporary magnetic attachment of the humans to the floor or seats, and to permit them to stand or to sit as desired. In addition, the systems allow humans to easily detached from the floor or seat, for example, by enabling them to walk by just exerting a gentle and soft muscular contraction. So, it is well balanced and designed to allow for a smooth operation. This invention includes a more general approach, where the magnetic elements (8) of the floor are implemented with electromagnets, so the magnetic field is easily turned off and on as desired. Additionally, magnetized tiles can be used to fully (or partially) cover the floor, which, in turn, can be individually controlled with an on/off switch.

Such a tiled system can comprise sensors that read the proximity of a “switched on” shoe RFID type transponder within the smart clothing or shoe. This allows for only the immediate area needed to be electrically powered to induce the pseudo-gravity. This furthermore allows different individuals to be in the same area with only those choosing to be under the effects of pseudo-gravity to experience it while others remain free floating in microgravity.

Regarding the ability to walk in the space habitat, like on Earth, it could be implemented by using special shoes (6). Thus, shoe’s soles have several magnetic dots (alternatively dots could be made of ferromagnetic materials) at different sole location with certain uniform distribution. Then the floor also features magnetic strips or tiles. Thus, the attraction to the opposite magnetic lines and strips or tiles on the station “floor” produces the desire effect of temporarily pushing down the shoes (6) when pressed against the floor surface (gravity-like induced behavior). The design of the magnetic elements for both elements (shoe's soles and floor lines/paths or tiles) is done such that humans’ feet can easily (applying a force similar to that on Earth) be detached from the floor exerting a gentle and soft muscular contraction. So, it is well balanced and designed to allow for a smooth operation, allow an easy (Earth-like) walk, and avoid tension in the leg muscles.

The paths and routes on the floor will have to be predefined, and might be highlighted by lighting, so humans can choose to walk normally through them, or to stay floating in micro-gravity outside them. Alternatively, the floor could be fully covered by magnetic tiles so astronauts can freely walk on the floor surface feeling a proper pull toward the floor. Figures 7 and 8 show further details of these concepts.

While strips are efficient for seat, bed’s matrix, tables, walls, etc., they are not as good for floor unless the strips are packed at high density to ensure that the surface below the boots or shoes (6) is also magnetic for any possible walk. In such case, magnetized tiles are better option for floor surfaces, as they have full coverage on the surface. Additionally, magnetized tiles help avoiding sticky effects as the astronaut walks on the surface and her shoes (6) are momentarily “glued” to the surface. To avoid this, tiles can have on/off switches depending if the astronaut is stepping (or not stepping) on particular tiles. This has some advantages a) walk feels more “natural” partially avoiding sticking effects, b) tiles not used are off thus saving energy.

In a preferred embodiment, in order to activate the corresponding magnetic tiles, the body and walking pose is dynamically tracked using a hybrid system of sensors in the boot/shoe and environment cameras. The boot/shoe integrates a sensor that tracks the 3D position and orientation to the tiled floor, while the cameras complement the 3D pose recovery with leg and torso position estimation based on non-calibrated multi-camera full body segmentation into rigid segments that are time-tracked all the time (skeleton tracking). The system tracks simultaneously several users and infers, even with simple and temporary occlusions from other users or objects been carried, an accurate pose estimation of the walking phase of each user.

During the walking phase, the magnetic field is reduced/stopped while the foot is lifted, and the tracking system tracks the leg position and walking phase of the tracked synthetic skeleton to predict the next walking step that is complemented with a magnetic adaptive pull force that the user feels intuitively as close to normal walking with gravity.

During the walking phase, the magnetic field is reduced/stopped while the foot is lifted, and the tracking system tracks the leg position and walking phase of the tracked synthetic skeleton to predict the next walking step and precise virtual skeleton walking pose to pull down or release the corresponding magnetic tiles that pull down the astronaut feet. This is complemented with a magnetic adaptive pull force that the user feels intuitively as close to normal walking with gravity.

Such a system, if utilized by electromagnets in a walkable loop area (such as a circular corridor), could have the magnetic attraction increased to a level which would increase the resistance to separate from while walking. This can be utilized to create a running path for astronauts to keep up their daily exercise regime to maintain their bone and muscle mass.

Regarding the ability to sit, lie in a bed, or keep the hands/arms attached to a table or wall, the invention would propose a similar magnetization of the right clothes (7), as well as the habitat relevant infrastructure. Earth-like sitting gesture would require that human pants and shirts have embedded magnetic elements, and the intended seats too, with the opposite polarization. The proposed invention requires that those clothes (7) (similar for all, either shirts, pants, pajamas, socks, or gloves) features embedded or attached small magnetic grains, or dots that enables a general magnetization effect in them. This invention features for all sorts of implementation of those magnetic elements in space used clothes (7) (and shoes (6)). For instance, this could be made by using a very thin layer of material like silicone or plastic, etc. (as additional layer to the basic textile), which will incorporate inside its material the mentioned embedded magnetized spots or particles. Thus, the property of the clothes (7) (made of the textile, plus the added thin layer of other material with the embedded magnetic dots/grains) is magnetized, as this force will exist beyond the textile layer depth (designed for up to a few centimeters beyond).

Then the seats feature strips and attached magnets with the opposite polarization. Detachment can be made by muscle contraction, or by moving off the seat magnets if designed with those. If a shirt is made with many small, magnetized dots, it will get attached to the seat, wall, or bed that has the alternate magnetic force until the human exercises a muscle force that will detach him. Example of this can be seen in Figure 9, which shows spots in the back side of a human shirt.

The infrastructure implemented magnets can be seen clearly in the Figure 10.

Other surfaces and infrastructure elements of the space habitat such as the tables and walls can also feature those strips/lines/tiles of magnetic elements, to allow paths/routes/elements of the habitat that allows the humans to achieve the gravity-like induced gestures and positions.

The above concept can also be used for a sleeping system. Currently the sleeping in space habitats with microgravity are based on vertical positioning of the human inside a sac, and attached to a wall, to avoid free floating. The positions are far from comfortable and ideal. Being that sleep is a very important health indicator, the current invention is especially suited for future space station residents bringing clear health and wellness advantages.

The invention proposes a normal bed attached to the floor with a matrix that has embedded the magnets or the magnetic strip lines, and then the human has to wear pajamas with the same concept of soft textile in contact with the human skin, and additional thin layer of silicone or plastic with various dots/grains of magnetic elements with the opposite magnetic polarization than the matrix, and with the field intensity reaching just a few centimeters, enough to allow the right linking force to the bed. Upon wake up, humans can either turn off the bed magnets, traction himself away off the bed with muscle strength, or just taking off the magnetized pajamas. This invention allows humans to get a sleeping process like on Earth with magnetically induced gravity-like effects as illustrated in Figure 11 .

Users can choose to, temporarily or permanently, turn off the induced gravity effects by just switching clothes (7) and shoes (6) to normal (non-magnetized) ones, so in that case there would be no effects even along the magnetic routes in the floors.

Claims

1 . System for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module characterized in that it comprises: a tether (2) attached to a space station (3) at one end, and to a habitational module (4) at the other end, additional balance masses configured to compensate for the dragging effects of the extra centripetal force generated by the habitational module (4) attached to the tether (2), means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module (4), such that the means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module (4) generates a rotational movement of said habitational module (4) around the space station (3) through the tether (2).

2. System for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module (4) comprises a propulsion service vehicle (1).

3. System for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for providing an impulsion to the habitational module (4) comprises at least one thruster incorporated in the habitational module (4).

4. System for creating artificial gravity in a habitational module according to any claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it comprises a pressurized elevator (5) configured to move along the tether (2), having a first docking port at the end connected to the habitational module (4) and a second docking port at the end connected to the Space station (3).

5. Device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment for people using shoes (6) and clothes (7) where the Habitat comprises at least floor, seats, bed's matrix, tables and walls, characterized in that

- the shoes (6) and clothes (7) comprise magnetic spots, grains, or dots which are embedded and/or attached the shoes (6) and clothes (7),

- the space habitat comprises magnetic elements (8) on at least one of floor, seats, bed's matrix, tables, walls, such that the magnetic spots, grains, or dots works of shoes (6) and clothes (7) in conjunction with the magnetic elements (8) implemented in the space habitat provide a stable temporary union.

6. Device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment according to claim 5 characterized in that the magnetic elements (8) of the floor are implemented with electromagnets.

7. Device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment according to claim 6 characterized in that it comprises a lighting system configured to highlight a path defined in the floor.

8. Device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment according to claim 6 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of sensors configured to read the proximity of an RFID type transponder located within the clothes (7) or shoe (6) and activate the electromagnets of the floor.

9. Device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment according to claim 6 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of environment cameras complemented with a plurality of sensors in the shoe (6), such that the environment cameras track a position of person, and the sensors tracks the position and orientation to the floor.

10. Device for Inducing pseudo-gravity effects inside a Habitat in Space environment according to claim 6 characterized in that the magnetized spots or particles are located in an additional layer of the textile of the clothes (7).