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Volume 133
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10.3390/engproc2026133141
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Proceeding Paper

Exoskeleton-Based Microgravity Simulation for Astronaut Training †

by
Mathias Trampler
1,*,
Marc Tabie
1,
Julia Habenicht
2 and
Elsa Andrea Kirchner
1,2
1
Robotics Innovation Center, DFKI GmbH, 28359 Bremen, Germany
2
Institute of Medical Technology Systems, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 15th EASN International Conference, Madrid, Spain, 14–17 October 2025.
Eng. Proc. 2026, 133(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2026133141
Published: 14 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 15th EASN International Conference on “Innovation in Aviation & Space Towards Sustainability Today & Tomorrow”)
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Abstract

Performance of fine motor tasks during the initial phase of space missions is often compromised by the adaptation to microgravity. Since traditional Earth-based training methods are limited and struggle to replicate these conditions without strict time constraints, we propose the training of fine motor tasks with simulated microgravity on earth using an upper limb active exoskeleton. With a model-based control approach, we create a state of microgravity for both arms. To enable realistic microgravity simulation, a suitable model of the human arm is needed. We developed a method to identify the parameters of an arm model by leveraging the computational graph of the inverse dynamics algorithm and utilizing gradient descent to minimize the discrepancy between model and reality. Preliminary data from parabolic flights show that subjects trained with our exoskeleton achieved higher accuracy in a fine motor task during their first exposure to real microgravity compared to untrained subjects.
Keywords: exoskeleton; astronaut training; microgravity simulation exoskeleton; astronaut training; microgravity simulation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Trampler, M.; Tabie, M.; Habenicht, J.; Kirchner, E.A. Exoskeleton-Based Microgravity Simulation for Astronaut Training. Eng. Proc. 2026, 133, 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2026133141

AMA Style

Trampler M, Tabie M, Habenicht J, Kirchner EA. Exoskeleton-Based Microgravity Simulation for Astronaut Training. Engineering Proceedings. 2026; 133(1):141. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2026133141

Chicago/Turabian Style

Trampler, Mathias, Marc Tabie, Julia Habenicht, and Elsa Andrea Kirchner. 2026. "Exoskeleton-Based Microgravity Simulation for Astronaut Training" Engineering Proceedings 133, no. 1: 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2026133141

APA Style

Trampler, M., Tabie, M., Habenicht, J., & Kirchner, E. A. (2026). Exoskeleton-Based Microgravity Simulation for Astronaut Training. Engineering Proceedings, 133(1), 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2026133141

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