Space Sandmen| Sleep Shift Scheduling Tool
Sleep Shift Scheduling Tool
- Ve ∞ Insomnia
Summary
our project is divided into 3 parts:1- movable bed is designed to rotate with the astronaut’s overturning aiming to distribute the fluids well.Also, the astronaut is almost submerged in a cavity without moving away from the bed while sleeping or doingexercise considering the lack of gravity.2- Freon, water-based cooling system that regulates the system’s temperature which is subdivided into two separatedalternative congruent tanks to let the water cool down from the exothermic heat of the Freon pipes. This will decrease the burning of calories.3- lighting system that adjusts the master clock by simulating the regular day lifecycle to overcome the 16 sunrise in space
How We Addressed This Challenge
We managed to generate an idea that develops:
-Replacing the way of strapping the astronauts in a sleeping bag to be a movable bed that allows the astronauts to overturn in sideways with also being almost submerged in a cavity making him feel comfortable (taking into consideration the lack of gravity).
-Using a Freon, water-based cooling system instead of the traditional air conditioners that regulates the system’s temperature. It is subdivided into two alternative separated congruent tanks taking turns by switches and pumps installed in the water containers after certain cycles to let the water cool down from the exothermic heat of the Freon pipes. This will decrease the burning of calories.
-Installing an additional movable mirror system on the inner surface of the windows to overcome the issue of 16 sunrise besides the fluorescent bulbs that act as supporter for the sunlight in its set in the day time.
These developments distinguish our idea as it is important in:
-supplying comfortable sleeping as the astronaut is fitted in bed.
-good distribution of body’s fluids due to the astronaut overturning.
-cool down the room that decreases the burning of calories.
-the bed is suitable for doing exercises.
-controlling the light entry to the ship in a certain time to adjust the lifecycle that adjust the master clock.
All of these solve the problems that faces the astronauts in the space.
the mechanism of our project:
-Firstly, the two cylinders that lift the bed rotate around their axis when the astronaut is loaded with his weight in a certain direction and the upper part of the bed also moves with them to be step by step with the astronaut while his overturning. There are two safety precautions. The first is a base installed in the ground to stop the bed at a certain point. The second is a belt in each side of the device that has a relation to the maximum rotation of the bed, helping to stop the astronaut from overturning so that he is not move away from the bed.
-Secondly, the Freon is pumped in the first layer absorbing the heat energy from the bed body then the Freon travels in the pipes reach the water container that absorbs the exothermic heat then the Freon reaches the container to cool down to be pumped again in the pipes to the flow lines of the upper layer. After certain cycles the other water container takes its turn to let the first container slightly cool down, this cycle will be repeated as a loop.
-Thirdly, the movable mirrors will take its turn to adjust the day lifecycle by reflecting the light in the night time and permit its entry during the day time with the supply of the fluorescent bulbs
The aim of our project :
-Adjusted the sleeping periods without using medications after we adjust the day lifecycle (daytime and nighttime).
-Regarding the low amount of calories, the astronaut takes, we decreased the amount of burned calories by decreasing the temperature of the body.
-Helped in doing physical exercises by using the press-able cubes of the bed
- Helped good distribution of fluids by the ability of overturning
How We Developed This Project
Astronauts play an important role in discoveries and research. So, our job is to solve the problems they face and therefore their work is easily done. Astronauts are affected psychologically and physically by poor fluid distribution and muscle atrophy, in addition to their feeling of fatigue and exhaustion, which gradually reduces the efficiency of their work.
because of the pandemic of Covid-19, there isn’t a possibility to make the prototype for our project but to make it, we need:
(hardware)
-The metal of the bed body
-the plastic insulator
-liquefied Freon
-water, pumps, pipes and containers
-press-able metallic cubes
-mirrors
-fluorescent bulbs
-anti-reflection coat
-gyroscope sensor
-thermostat
-hydraulic pressure switch
-touch sensor
-ultrasonic sensor
-switches
To explain our project, we designed a 3d Design for our project and also made an explanation video. This was done by using some software application like sketch up 2018 and Camtasia.
our achievement is to solve the problems that face the astronauts by the ways we mentioned before
How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project
According to NASA,JAXA and ESA , we know the main problems that face the astronauts during the sleep time. They sleep in small sleeping compartments by using sleeping bags. The first problem is that they strap their bodies loosely so that their bodies will not move in any direction.
The second problem we knew about was that there is about 16 sunrise in 24 hours on spaceships in space which makes it difficult for astronauts to maintain a regular sleep. Accordingly, problems in mental and physical health are caused.
The third one is the poor distribution of fluids inside the body due to the lack of gravity.
The fourth one is decreasing the potential of the muscles and doing exercises faces this problem.
The fifth one is to use medications and the high temperatures.
All these information helped us to make a suitable solution for the challenge.
We solved these problems by designing a flexible bed that makes the astronauts move better than the previous sleeping bags. In the same time, they will be stuck in the cavity of the bed so that they don't fly by. Moreover, we developed a lighting system that simulates the earth's daylight cycle. This system will adjust to the master clock of the astronaut's body preventing any mental or physical problems. Also, the overturning during sleeping will lead to good distribution of fluids.
Beside all of this , we made a cooling system to decrease of the astronaut's body's temperature and the amount of burned calories. Also, by reviewing NASA database information, we found out the thickness of the window that help us to know how we will install the mirrors.
Project Demo
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12drgkhQpMpLHFVT-v8dFdfIS8Dx6a04C?usp=sharing
Data & Resources
ByLeonie, W., Jonathan, O., Anny, Hidalgo, S., & B, E. (2020, March 23). Weightlessness – Work – Sleep: The Routine of an Astronaut. Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://blogs.esa.int/thomas-pesquet/2017/01/16/weightlessness-work-sleep-the-routine-of-an-astronaut/
(n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://iss.jaxa.jp/kids/en/life/05.html
Sleeping in space. (2019, August 22). Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/living-in-space/sleeping-in-space.asp
Wu, B., Wang, Y., Wu, X., Liu, D., Xu, D., & Wang, F. (2018, May 30). On-orbit sleep problems of astronauts and countermeasures. Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5975626/
Rainey, K. (2016, December 08). Seven Ways Astronauts Improve Sleep May Help You Snooze Better. Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/astronauts_improve_sleep
Circadian Rhythms. (n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx
HSF - The Shuttle. (n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/structure/windows.html
Perez, J. (2016, March 30). The Human Body in Space. Retrieved October 03, 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace