When member of an astrophysics team from MIT visited NuVu to tell our studio about the various disadvantages of gas-compression space suits and the benefits of skin-tight space suits, he discussed his team leader: Dava Newman, a scientist at the forefront of space suit research and design, who has developed a model of a skin-tight space suit that was modeled along the lines of non-extension (LoNEs) on a human body. These lines are lines that do not experience compression or tension when the human body moves. He suggested several parts of a full suit—covering the entire human body—that would be beneficial for the members of our studio to work on. Our team chose to work on the torso portion. Since we were also under the tutelage of a professional corset-maker and architect, Faune Stevens, we decided to base our torso suit design on the way corsets were constructed and laced up. Our precedents were mainly eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century corsets.

Here is the timeline of all our iterations up until the final.

Iteration 1- First Cardboard Prototype

We decided to use the lacing mechanism found in corsets to tighten up the suit to the correct pressure. I came up with the idea that there ought to be knobs on the sides of the suit to tighten the suit up, since the laces of the corset from the Victorian era have two protruding loops of lace on the sides of the corset that was used to tighten the corset. The loops would be twisted over the knobs, which could be twisted repeatedly to create the necessary pressure. We made a small prototype of the corset top design, and cut it out of cardboard. The obvious problems with this were that 1) it was scaled down, 2) cardboard does not fit to the form of the human body very easily, 3) the lacing curve down the centerline was curved, so that reduced the amount of pressure the lacings could exert on the human torso, and 4) it was not very aesthetically pleasing.

Iteration 2 - First Felt Prototype

We started out by revamping the corset design that was cut for the first iteration by making it fit to an outline of the human body that was imported into Rhino. We then tried to cut a corset top by hand from a stretch of felt, but the felt was too thick, cutting by hand was too inaccurate, and the design of the corset top outline had just been finished in Rhino.  We laser-cut the felt top and pinned it to a mannequin. We then laced up the corset with 0.25"-wide string/ribbon, in the offset lacing pattern that can be found in Faune's post in “Updates”. We considered attaching the metal rings to the holes as borders for the holes. In addition to these developments, we explored ways to organize the human body besides the LONEs. We thought of using organization methods based around features of the human body that are usually permanent, such as the skeleton structure and organ placement. We also thought of using a topographical map of the human body. Also, we came up with the idea that we could lace up the corset by placing seams along the LONEs, rather than just having a vertical lacing seam down the front of the corset. The goal of this was to offer more flexibility in one cohesive garment.

Iteration 3

Having successfully made a rudimentary prototype of a corset laced up the front, we now explored the idea of using the LONEs as laces. We constructed a Rhino model of a corset with lines over some LONEs that we chose for their relative easiness in lacing up. We printed out several copies of a photo of the front of the BioSuit, with its LONEs clearly visible and traced out patterns of LONEs that were important for lacing purposes. We used these to model a corset suit in Rhino while also exploring different lacing methods, such as eyelet holes, slits, protruding eyelets, and 3D-printed eyelets. The corset suit that we Rhino-modeled was laced up by the LONEs up until a little under the waist. Since the corset needed to also be laced up below the waist, in order to provide equal tension everywhere across the torso, we added extra lines for lacing below the waist that are not LONEs but are relatively close replicas. We thought that these lines would provide more compression than the LONEs, which moved more diagonally than horizontally or vertically.

Iteration 4

In this iteration, we first started working on the back. We decided that using LONEs would be the best option for lacing up the panels. Then, we realized, after the LONEs had been traced for the back, that the LONEs on the front and the back did not vertically align, which meant that either we had to change the position of the lacings or we had to find another way to connect the front and back panels besides extending one or the other. Thus, we came upon the solution that we could replace the "non-natural" lines on the front of the suit with "natural lines" that were found on the back of the suit. After that, we laser cut the suit, which lacked eyelet thread holes in its three lowermost panels, and pinned it to a red mannequin. The suit, after being cut, seemed as though it needed to be scaled up a little more, so that it could fit until the nether end of the mannequin.

Iteration 5

In this iteration, we resized the suit so that it would 1) be able to fit on the mannequin in a 3-dimensional way, and 2) not come up short at the sides, where the back and front would connect. This was done by extending the sides, especially near the hip, waist, bust, and shoulder, to cover the mannequin up to its "crease"—the point where the two halves of the mannequin meet. Then, we laser cut our final back. We also gave a similar expansion treatment to the front pieces, which were extended to meet the mannequin's crease. Then, we laser cut the redesigned front part of the corset, and laced up the shoulder panels for the back portion. Since the red, chalk-stained mannequin was occupied by our previous prototype, we pinned the front and back portions to a slimmer, less chalk-stained blue mannequin, thus demonstrating how our design can fit on people of different shapes and sizes. Then, we realized that the front portion was almost 90 mm taller than the back portion, so we removed the three lowermost panels from the front portion. After this, I saw that the front shoulderblade section did not quite reach the back shoulderblade section, so I used the arm/sleeve pieces from our second-earliest prototype to fashion a shoulder pad for each shoulder, so that the gap between the front and back shoulderblade portions would be a) covered by fabric, and b) look attractive, just like the rest of the suit. Looking at the suit, fully laced on all accounts, the waist is particularly successful, as one can see from the pictures, because it is tight and form-fitting, in conformity with the goal of our project!

Our project's goal was to create a stylish spacesuit that easily adjusts from loose and comfortable, to tightness that creates a pressurized atmosphere for spacewalking and compresses the human body. Our team, along with the other five groups on the studio, were working on various parts of the suit, designed this skin-tight space suit under the guidance and inspiration of a team at MIT. Our final creation is a "corsuit" constructed from black felt and turquoise thread, laced over the lines of no extension (LoNEs; essentially the constants of the human body)  to provide the maximum compression possible.

The goal is to apply constant pressure on the finger joints while allowing them to bend freely. The problem with space suits today is they are filled with gas making it hard for astronauts to move while in space. We sent out to slove this problem.

In the beggining we weren't really sure what we wanted to do. We looked at many precedents dealing with just the fingers and their finger joints, which helped us to decide to deal with the finger joints. Our coach Rosie helped us formulate this finger idea and help it come alive. 

In the end we made a bracelet that attatches to the fingers. It serves to keep even compression to all of the finger will allowing them to move without any difficulty. 

Iteration 1: Our first iteration was assembled mostly by hand with the use of the laser cutter. This iterations served as our first model, to test how the braclet fit as well as the composition of the design worked with each other. This draft didn't mimic the exact movment or compression of the final design because it was used to see how it pieced together. We used the software program Rhino to laser cut out the cardboard braclet and finger rings. After we assembled the laser cut pieces I attatched a metal wire that I cut to act as the string that woud pull on the rings to make them turn in the final design. 

Iteration 2: This iteration was our final design and product from this studio. Similarly to the first design we used Rhino to model and generate the design. What was different this time is we used the 3D printer to print the models to get a more professional design. This iteration was great because it really applied the compression that we were looking for. Also the fingers were able to move and adjust as they bent and moved around. The bracelet had four slits for the strings to hold and attatch to each individual finger. 

The Magnetic Compression Glove Station was inspired by the space suit that a team of MIT graduates are working on called the BioSuit. The BioSuit uses mechanical compression to create atmospheric pressure instead of traditional gas compression. We worked on tackling the compression problem in regards to the hands. One of our original models included a flap with magnets in it that, when placed on top of the base glove, would become attracted to the magnets on the bottom of glove therefore creating a compression effect. This solved the problem in theory but we wanted to push the boundaries;we created a magnetic glove station using electro magnets. The user could put their hand in this station, turn the electro magnet off, and the magnet fabric on the top and bottom would attract to one another making a glove shape around your hand. (See process to know how it works). We additionally began to develop a 3d printed "fabric" that would function as the glove.

If we could go a step further, we would make a more flexible magnetic fabric to allow for a wider range of motion. Additionally, the dimensions of the individual triangles would be be made significantly smaller and customized to specifically fit a an individual's hand. Also, we would hope to make the height of the station adjustable to allow for a greater variation of hand sizes to comfortably fit inside. Additionally, this modification would allow for the fabric to be closer to the electromagnets-easing the "removal" process. 

Overall Iterations

Iteration 1

(Concept demonstration)

Magnets were taped onto a latex glove to demonstrate magnetic pressure. 

Iteration 2 

Gloves were hand cut from felt and magnets were taped on. 

Iteration 3

Premade, waterproof glove with magnets taped on the bottom. We attached a corresponding felt flap with magnets; when the flap is placed onto the top of your hand the magnets will attract to the ones on the bottom of the hand.

Iteration 4

We created a box-like station out of lasercut cardboard layers stacked on top of eachother. Each layer was designed as a 2d Rhino file. Spaces were cut in the cardboard to place the magnetic fabric and different holes were cut to store the elctromagnets on the top and on the bottom of the box and the hand that would go inside of it. This iteration utilizesed electromagnets and magnetic pressure to take the glove off and put it on. 

This was when the electro magnets were introduced (go to bottom to see how they work).

Iteration 5

Iteration 5 was essentially the same as Iteration 4 except with nuts and bolts to separate the top and bottom parts of the box. The parts are separated to enable the user to fit their hand inside two sets of electro magnets.

Iteration 6 

This time the layers were designed in Rhino to fit screws, nuts, and bolts. The station was cut out of wood instead of cardboard, which allowed for more stability. 

How the elecromagnets make our idea work:

2 electromagnets would be placed 2 inches away from eachother: one on top of the box and one on the bottom. 2 additional magnets would be placed seperately in between the electromagnets. When the electro magnets were on, 1 of the additional magnets would be attrracted to the top electromagnet, while the other would be attracted to the bottom electromagnet. At this point the user would insert their hand (see diagram) into the station. Once the hand was inserted the electromagnet would be turned off, which would cause the additional magnets to attract to eachother instead of the elecromagnets. The attraction between the two magnets, on the top and bottom of the hand, would create an instant compression effect.

The final more developed version will use two pieces of magnetic "fabric" instead of two magnets.

Fabric Iterations

Iteration 1

Lasercut cardboard squares (holding magnets) connected with metal rings.

Iteration 2

Lasercut cardboard triangles, which held magnets.

Iteration 3

Smaller lasercut cardboard triangles, which held magnets.

Iteration 4

Smaller lasercut cardboard triangles with small holes on both ends to remove the cardboard "barrier."

Iteration 5

The cardboard triangles from iteration 4 (with magnets) attached to one another with string.

Iteration 6

Large 3d printed triangular hinges with a space for a magnet (with supports).

Iteration 7

Smaller 3d printed hinges with a space for a magnet (without supports).

We designed a finger machine that helps equal the pressure of the earth when in space. Each finger has it’s own sleeve that it slides into. It uses a string pulley mechanism to apply the pressure.

The space suit that they now have has nothing covering the hands. We learned that the tighter the glove the more at risk astronauts become for losing their fingernails or their whole finger because the blood can’t circulate through their hands. We wanted to create a glove that would provide enough pressure that astronauts need in their fingers but would be loose enough to allow blood flow to the fingers. We wanted to find away to give astronauts the best of both worlds and make sure they would be both comfortable and safe. We got our inspiration from various precedents that we looked at when we first started the project.

This project is important because it helps not only us as students learn about spacesuits and space but it also helps give Brad other perspectives on ideas for the suit. Through the whole process Micki and I learned many facts about space because we had to understand how space worked and all of the restraints when making the glove. We also learned about LONES within the body and how they work. These were important because it educated us not only about spacesuit making but space in general and all of the steps that go into it.

   In space there is constant issues concerning pressure on the human body.  Without this constant pressure your body would malfunction.  Right now the solution for this is gas space suits.  However, with gas space suits mobility is decreased severely.  Mobility is especially decreased in the foot.  With the gas suits feet are unable to bend and move around.  So we decided to focus on various joints in the foot.  The joints included were the ankle and the ball of the foot.  In order to maintain pressure when the foot is moved we created hard rings which were 3-D printed.  We also created a band mechanism that would add pressure once the joint moved.

Iteration 1:  Iteration one just consisted of rings that connected together that would be placed on the joints.  However this helped with some areas of pressure but others were left out.

Iteration 2:  We were able to create a system of sliding plates out of the rings.  This allowed pressure to be added to the area that the rings did not cover.  

Iteration 3:  We added a Z-shaped figure in order to keep the whole system together.  This was our finally iteration.

    On the first day Brad came into the studio to talk about a new space suit called a bio suit. He told us about how tight the suit is and how hard it is to get into. We started by trying to use electromagnets to find a way to pull the outside of the suit inwards when you are getting into it. When the electromagnets turn of the suit will expand and tighten onto you.

    On the second day Jordan and I switched to working on the helmet of the bio suit. The goal of the helmet was to design it in a way make a helmet that holds in air and works without requiring the suit to act like a balloon. One of the ides we had was make a balloon that fit around the persons neck and could be inflated to stop air flow. Another idea we had was to use a mask that were similar to a fighter jet pilots mask that would go only around their mouth and eyes. We also thought about making something similar to a scuba mask or a snorkel to give the person air. We also decided to peruse was the idea of making a helmet that was similar to a dry suit that used something like rubber around you neck to hold air in. We decided to test what it would be like to wear something like that around your neck so tried to make a neck cover but later ran out of time.

    On the third day Jorndana and I worked more on making a air tight space helmet. Near the beginning of the day we worked on designing a gasket that had a clip on it so that you could place it around your neck and then tighten with a clip. We also tried using velcro to hold the gasket i its place. After a while we started to think that this would not be enough to hold make sure air never got out. We later came up with a idea of making metal ring out of a non magnetic material and having circular magnets attached in a circular pattern that would connect to another metal ring with holes with magnets at the bottom that the magnets would connect to. We decided to use magnets in only certain spots around the circle and not in a strip going around the whole circle because if it was a strip it might be potentially to hard to get the helmet off.

    On the fourth day we decided to think about a more fantastical reality and what a gasket than would look like than. we thought about the idea of using a metal implant in the person’s chest that the gasket could magnetize to the implant. We also tried designing a neck collar that the gasket can magnetize. We wanted to use a stretchy material so that the collar wouldn't constrict the users neck and make it hard to breath. We also made another collar that was made completely out of cardboard and was etched to bent around the neck.

    On Friday I worked on making a model of a upper human chest. I made the model so that I could find areas where I could put the magnets. I decided to try to stay along the bone as much as possible so that we could mostly avoid having problems with the magnets getting in the way of muscles and tenants. The magnets would hopefully fallow the fist and second rib and a part of the clavicle so that it could go all the way around the body.

    On Tuesday Jordana and I continued working on a implant that could be attached the your chest, and a new idea using a magnetic paste. In the beginning of the day we had an idea to use a paste that had iron mixed into it so that a magnetic gasket could connect to it. I also started designing a final implant in Rhino that  would fallow the clavicle and than connects to the shoulder blade and has magnets not connected to bones in between. I also had a idea for a artificially joint that would be in between the magnets that would be in the shape of a joystick. This would help the user of the implants feel as regular as possible.

    In the end we had two ideas. One of them was using a magnetic paste that a person would apply before going outside. The other idea was using magnetic implants that would fallow both clavicles with a connector in-between. From there there would be connecters in-between the shoulder blade and the end of the clavicles. From the shoulder blades there would be a large connecter in-between the two.

Our design prompt was how can we make something go from loose to tight and incorporate it into a space suit. We brainstormed many different things including, tubing filled with substances that change depending on temperature or other factors. Areas that could be filled with air or the air could be sucked out of. We decided on the idea of a lever that you can pull on to tighten the suit. It was based off of tremolos which is a lever on a guitar which is used to loosen and tighten strings. By pulling down on the lever the strings that were attached to the lever would go taut and tighten the the suit.

Our first iteration was fairly simple. We laser cut out a piece of cardboard and made it into a box without a top or bottom. We then poked four holes on one of the sides, that was only attached on one side, and we then threaded string through the holes. On the other side we attached a small piece of cardboard by poking two holes in it and threading a wire through to create a hinge. Lastly we made four holes in the attached piece of wire and threaded the string though it putting tape on the other side so they wouldn't slide out. The Iteration worked but it didn't work very well. By pulling on the lever the two ends of the box were pulled together but it was an almost negligible amount and there was little power in the lever. This iteration showed us that this could work so we decided that we should move on to working with fabrique or felt. We also decided we should add a locking mechanism to keep the lever down once it was tightened.

Our second iteration was more complicated and better than the first. On Rhino we made both the designs for the piece of felt we would be using and the lever that would be attached. The felt had holes cut into it so we could thread the string through and so did the handle. We threaded the two pieces of felt together and then attached the handle and threaded the string through the holes in the handle. The last thing we did was attach velcro to both the lever and felt. This iteration was really successful. You can put it on your arm and pull down on the lever to tighten the felt around your arm. You can feel it get much tighter once the lever is pulled. The velcro is able to hold the lever down once it has been pulled. For our next step we wanted to create channels in the felt that we could put the shape memory alloy in. Our plan was that the shape memory alloy could be used to help push the lever down since it straightens out when heated.

We took what we learned from the first and second iteration and designed the third with what we learned in mind. It is the largest of the three iterations that we made. It fits around ones leg and by pulling down on the lever it tightens. We attached velcro to the back to serve as a locking mechanism. This iteration was successful. We proved that you could use a lever mechanism attached to the space suit to tighten it once it was on. The one thing that doesn't work so well is that it doesn't get super tight to get it tighter we would have to use shorter string so it was tighter at the start or a longer lever. If we had more time going forward our next step would be to place the shape memory alloy in the little channels we sewed for it. We would use the alloy to help push the lever down since it straightens when heated.

Our final product is proof that a mechanism like this could work. If you were to place levers like this on the space suit and some sort of string threaded through it you could put the suit on, and once it is on tighten it by just pulling down on the levers. Our project is consists of two pieces of felt with holes evenly spaced one inch apart. There is string threaded through the holes and attached to a handle that was glued on the side. You put wear our project on your arm. By pulling down on the lever the string attached to it gets taught and pulls on the other end of the felt, thus tightening the felt which is around ones arm

The main goals were to have an simple, easy, and inexpensive way to tighten and loosen a space suit. Our idea accomplishes all of those goals by using a lever which is incorporated into the fabric of the suit.

We were attempting to solve the problem of easiness while trying to get into a space suit. The “Bio-suit” is designed to add pressure to the human body in order to mimic the pressure created on earth (ie, around 14 pounds of pressure per square inch).

It’s important because of the strides that we have taken in trying to colonize space and explore the “last great frontier” yet space suits have changed very little in the past 40 years.