Microarchitecture Space Studies Report - Technische Universität ...

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Technische Universität München Microarchitecture Space Studies Project: personal hygiene assistant - pha 3. Introduction Goal of the experiments aboard the KC135 was mainly to proof that the personal hygiene assistant functions well under microgravity. Besides that we gained experience about the characteristics of the system in reduced gravity. This data should help for further developement of the device. The capillary effect of the sponge is an important factor of the well function of the PHA. If the 1-g force (on the ground) is stronger than the force of the suction, water starts to run down. The KC135 tests gave us an idea how the capillary effect of the sponge could be used more effectively in micro gravity. The goal was to reduce the energy consumption of the water suction in relation to the amount of injected water. The suction has to be at least strong enough to prevent water from floating away from the device. To get an evaluative feedback we were very interested to have many different people test the pha. Besides the initiators Bianca Artopé and Brigitte Borst we had eight other people from NASA, TUM and JE test the device in microgravity. 4. Methods and Materials 4.1. Subjects Subjects of testing were as following: Basic function Washing and cleaning effectiveness Relation between water supply and suction Usability and Ergonomics Subjective assessment of washing procedure 4.2. Instruments Experimental flight hardware aboard the KC135 contained four major components: - Water supply system - PHA - the device itself - Air-Water vacuum system - Power conditioning Different types of suction systems on the device were tested. There was no heating system supplied for the water; besides warm water was filled into the tanks. In order to make the water better visible on the video it was mixed with red food color. © 1999 all copyrights of the shown projects are with the designers and the departement for design and architecture at tu münchen Issue: Date: 12/02/1999 Page: B 04
Technische Universität München Microarchitecture Space Studies Project: personal hygiene assistant - pha 4.3. Procedure Day 1, October 26.1999 Test of basic function (Bianca Artopé) Free floating experiments Test of washing procedure Other experimenters (Astronaut, Ralf) Day 2, October 27.1999 (initially not scheduled) Test of washing procedure Figuring out best relation between water and suction Other experimenters (Constance Adams, Claudia Hertrich) Day 3, October 28.1999 Test of basic function (Brigitte Borst) Test of washing procedure Figuring out best relation between water and suction Other experimenters (Andreas Vogler, Hubert Brasseaux, K.) Day 4, October 29.1999 (initially not scheduled) Test of washing procedure Figuring out best relation between water and suction Other experimenters (Constance Adams, Julia Habel) 5. Results © 1999 all copyrights of the shown projects are with the designers and the departement for design and architecture at tu münchen Issue: Date: 12/02/1999 Page: B 05 The personal hygiene assistant works well under microgravity conditions. No water drops escape from the device except too much water is injected into the pha (more than 6 Volts - ...l/min) and the PHA is used on the arm and not a plain body surface. See Questionnaire evaluation 6. Discussion The desired water consumption of different experimenters varied from 1.5 V to 4.5 V. One hairy experimenter complained that the water sticks too much to the hair and is hard to be removed.
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