A biomedical sensor system for real-time monitoring of astronauts' physiological parameters during extra-vehicular activities.
OBJECTIVE
To design and test an embedded biomedical sensor system that can monitor astronauts' comprehensive physiological parameters, and provide real-time data display during extra-vehicle activities (EVA) in the space exploration.


METHODS
An embedded system was developed with an array of biomedical sensors that can be integrated into the spacesuit. Wired communications were tested for physiological data acquisition and data transmission to a computer mounted on the spacesuit during task performances simulating EVA sessions.


RESULTS
The sensor integration, data collection and communication, and the real-time data monitoring were successfully validated in the NASA field tests.


CONCLUSIONS
The developed system may work as an embedded system for monitoring health status during long-term space mission.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 843067, Richmond, VA 23284-3067, USA. fei@vcu.edu
Ding-Yu
DY
Fei
Xiaoming
X
Zhao
Cosmin
C
Boanca
Esther
E
Hughes
Ou
O
Bai
Ronald
R
Merrell
Azhar
A
Rafiq
D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018480:Astronauts; D003020:Clothing; D018478:Extravehicular Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D010991:Plethysmography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013026:Space Flight; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen