Haptic control of a pneumatic muscle actuator to provide resistance for simulated isokinetic exercise; part II: control development and testing.

Pneumatic muscle actuators (PMAs) have a high power to weight ratio and possess unique characteristics which make them ideal actuators for applications involving human interaction. PMAs are difficult to control due to nonlinear dynamics, presenting challenges in system implementation. Despite these challenges, PMAs have great potential as a source of resistance for strength training and rehabilitation.

Physician training in aerospace medicine--an historical review in the United States.

The training of U.S. physicians in aviation medicine closely followed the development of reliable airplanes.

Haptic control of a pneumatic muscle actuator to provide resistance for simulated isokinetic exercise: Part I--dynamic test station and human quadriceps dynamic simulator.

Pneumatic muscle actuators (PMAs) have a high power to weight ratio and possess unique characteristics which make them ideal actuators for applications involving human interaction. PMAs are difficult to control due to nonlinear dynamics, presenting challenges in system implementation. Despite these challenges, PMAs have great potential as a source of resistance for strength training and rehabilitation.

Pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) task-specific resistance for potential use in microgravity exercise.

Introduction: A pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) is a device that mimics the behavior of skeletal muscle by contracting and generating force when activated. This type of actuator has a high power to weight ratio and unique characteristics which make it ideal for human interaction. PMAs, however, are difficult to control due to nonlinear dynamics.

Weight loss in humans in space.

Introduction: Bodyweight loss during spaceflight has been observed among astronauts since the early space missions. Considerable mission data has been accumulated, including data from female astronauts, on the many Shuttle and International Space Station missions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between observed weight loss during spaceflight and potential covariate factors.

Pneumatic muscle actuator for resistive exercise in microgravity: test with a leg model.

Introduction: A proof-of-concept demonstration is described in which a DC servomotor (simulating the quadriceps of a human operator) rotated a pulley 90 degrees (simulating knee extension). A pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) generated an opposing force (antagonist) to the rotating pulley. One application of such a device is for use in microgravity environments because the PMA is compact, simple, and of relatively small mass (283 g).

History of space medicine: the formative years at NASA.

Almost nothing was known about the effects of spaceflight on human physiology when, in May of 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the United States to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth within the decade. There were more questions than answers regarding the effects of acceleration, vibration, cabin pressure, CO2 concentration, and microgravity.

Hubertus Strughold: the "Father of Space Medicine".

Dr. Hubertus Strughold (1898-1986) is known as the "Father of Space Medicine". He first coined the term "space medicine" in 1948 and was the first and only Professor of Space Medicine at the U.

Airline chair-rest deconditioning: induction of immobilisation thromboemboli?

Air passenger miles will likely double by year 2020. The altered and restrictive environment in an airliner cabin can influence haematological homeostasis in passengers and crew. Flight-related deep venous thromboemboli (DVT) have been associated with at least 577 deaths on 42 of 120 airlines from 1977 to 1984 (25 deaths/million departures), whereas many such cases go unreported.

Human factors of powered flight: the Wright brothers' contributions.

Orville and Wilbur Wright of Dayton, OH, not only were the first to fly a powered aircraft, but also pioneered many human factors considerations. While others tried to develop aircraft with a high degree of aerodynamic stability, the Wrights intentionally designed unstable aircraft with "cerebralized" control modeled on bird flight. During 1901-03, the brothers worked with large gliders at Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk, NC, to develop the first practical human-interactive controls for aircraft pitch, roll, and yaw.

The use of antihistamines in safety-critical jobs: a meeting report.

The use of sedating agents by aircrew and those with safety-critical occupations has raised serious concern and has been extensively debated for several years. This meeting report summarizes the findings of an international panel of experts in aerospace medicine and allergic rhinitis who were brought together to discuss issues related to the use of antihistamines, in particular the selective, H1-receptor antagonist fexofenadine, in pilots. The presentations covered a wide range of topics including methods for accurately assessing sedation and impairment, and the validity of laboratory testing versus simulator assessments.

Field experience with the FAA's Web-based medical certification system "AMCS/DIWS". Federal Aviation Administration.

The October 1, 1999, introduction in the U.S. of a Web-based medical certification process for civil aircrew opened a new era within civil aviation.