Final Goals of your Project/s:

Previous versions of a gravitational offloading device for limbs have utilized passive mechanisms, such as springs, to alleviate the effects of gravity on the shoulders and upper arms of test subjects and astronauts. This device is used for training in reduced-gravity environments. The goal for the active version of this apparatus is to introduce a variable offloading mechanism capable of providing a more precise gravitational offload, depending on the arm’s orientation. In essence, the kinematics of this method have been developed, alongside an initial prototype. A pulley system is employed to lift the upper arm similarly to a marionette puppet. Ongoing rapid prototyping is focused on iterating through improved designs for the ARC-ANGEL, aiming to reduce both its volumetric footprint and material costs.

Describe what you did during your internship:

My role as an intern was to focus on improving the CAD design to reduce the footprint of the brackets and pulley system for ARC-ANGEL. Currently, the device utilizes custom-made aluminum parts produced by a third-party supplier, which are costly and lead to delays incompatible with rapid prototyping needs. I also explored alternative materials such as NylonX and manufacturing techniques like 3D printing as ways to maintain structural strength while significantly cutting down on production time and costs.

Did you achieve your goals? What were the results?:

Yes – the goals of this project were achieved as improved designs were proposed for ARC-ANGEL. While the success criteria relies on prototype testing which has not been completed yet, new designs were proposed in hopes of achieving a smaller volumetric footprint and cost.

Describe positive lessons learned:

As this internship was done virtually, I learned to create a work-life balance and improve my communication skills with my lab and mentor to make sure I was in the loop on project changes and updates.

Describe negative lessons learned:

The virtual aspect of this internship made it challenging to feel well-integrated into the projects and networking opportunities that would have been available if I was on-site. It also made it difficult to ask questions and be more involved on numerous projects like I have been able to do in the past.