Project Overview
In Spring of 2013, Georgia Tech and the Human Interface Branch of NASA partnered
together to find a way to help prevent astronaut injury by detecting their body positions in space. Conventional body movement tracking systems do not work in zero gravity environment, and motion tracking systems are ineffective underneath multiple layers of clothing, while also limiting movement throughout the ship.
As part of an interdisciplinary team, I helped develop an unobtrusive, textile based system to monitor astronauts’ arm position in real time, in zero gravity, and without the constraints of camera based motion-input devices.
The final garment was presented at the Johnson Space Center and the International Symposium for Wearable Computing in Zurich, Switzerland.
together to find a way to help prevent astronaut injury by detecting their body positions in space. Conventional body movement tracking systems do not work in zero gravity environment, and motion tracking systems are ineffective underneath multiple layers of clothing, while also limiting movement throughout the ship.
As part of an interdisciplinary team, I helped develop an unobtrusive, textile based system to monitor astronauts’ arm position in real time, in zero gravity, and without the constraints of camera based motion-input devices.
The final garment was presented at the Johnson Space Center and the International Symposium for Wearable Computing in Zurich, Switzerland.
This project delivered:
▸prototype garment with embedded sensors and electronics
▸computer program that translated movements from the garment onto a model of the human body
▸final paper, poster, video, and presentations
My Role
I worked together with the technical leads on the team to select the appropriate sensors and identify their optimal placement on the body.
Along with another designer, I developed a initial patterns for the garment, which were continuously updated throughout the design process. I completed the final pattern making, fabric laser cutting, assembly of electronics, and sewing of garment.
Skills leveraged throughout this project included:
▸body storming
▸sketching
▸iterative model making
▸pattern making in Adobe Illustrator
▸sewing
▸arduino prototyping
▸video editing
Along with another designer, I developed a initial patterns for the garment, which were continuously updated throughout the design process. I completed the final pattern making, fabric laser cutting, assembly of electronics, and sewing of garment.
Skills leveraged throughout this project included:
▸body storming
▸sketching
▸iterative model making
▸pattern making in Adobe Illustrator
▸sewing
▸arduino prototyping
▸video editing
Design Process
Sketches helped define the garment’s aesthetic. We drew inspiration from technical sports apparel.
We began to form a pattern by marking off the least intrusive parts of the torso for hardware wearability (Gemperle, 1998).
Our tape pattern and sketches were combined to produce a garment-patch pattern.
Soft circuitry was added to the patch pattern using conductive thread and traditional embroidery techniques.
Hardware is enclosed and protected beneath removable patches- keeping the garment low-profile, washable, and comfortable enough to wear as a base layer.
Schematic diagram shows integration of hardware into the soft textile garment. Future iterations may incorporate on-body feedback through lights and haptics.
Project Team: Emily Keen, Industrial Design / Mauricio Uruena, Industrial Design / Sahithya Baskaran, Human Computer Interaction
Norma Easter, Computational Media / Cameron Hord, Computer Science
Photo Credits: Noah Posner & Mauricio Uruena
Norma Easter, Computational Media / Cameron Hord, Computer Science
Photo Credits: Noah Posner & Mauricio Uruena