Microarchitecture Space Studies Report - Technische Universität ...

Technische Universität München
Microarchitecture Space Studies
Project: A. FLOW
Introduction:
© 1999 all copyrights of the shown projects are with the designers
and the departement for design and architecture at tu münchen
Postflight Report
Date: 12/06/1999
Page: A 02
The flow unit is a foldable table with an integrated restraint system designed to be used in a micro gravity
environment. It can be attached to the front of an international standard payload rack (a standardised
modular rack system used for outfitting spacecraft’s and space stations by most space organisations) and
used as an individual workstation to support astronauts in their daily routine at their notebooks, with
handheld experiments and small maintenance tasks. Two flow units can be attached in front of a rack to
extend the working surface. Several units can be paired along a rail to form a wardroom table across the
aisle in a space station module. The basic intention of this design is the outfitting of both wardroom and
working (laboratory) area in the current International Space Station concept.
The flow is a system of connected hinges and the correct fit depends on all adjustable angles and lengths. It
was a primary design goal to design the system as simple and intuitive as possible.
The tilt of the tabletop and the distance of the user from the table as well as from the rack surface can be
adjusted.
The integrated immobility aid of the flow is designed to restrain a user in the neutral body posture in micro
gravity. The user can adjust the workstation to his individual body size and use one of three different
restraining actions:
1. The user flexes his calf muscles and lifts his heels, the upper legs presses against the upper plate. The bottom
rotates around the upper plate and is pushed onto the seat plate. The user may have a slight sliding up feeling.
2. The user restrains himself between the two plates by a lift-leg action. With this action, one can be
restrained very forcefully. A forward-rotation force has to be counteracted.
3. The user restrains himself lightly with a lift heel action. He flexes his back muscles; his pelvic bone
rotates and pushes against the seat plate. As a reaction, the upper leg is pressed against the upper
plate.
A self-retracting bungee system helps restrain larger items on the table surface.
The system is open to further developments. A device can be integrated that restrains small objects in
negative airflow on the tabletop. Sockets for power or the ISS common data bus can be incorporated as
well.