Human attitude control

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Abstract

Attitude control of the human body in space without the aid of external controlling devices is studied. The human body is modeled by a ten-body system consisting of elliptical cylinders and frustrums of elliptical cones. Equations of motion are derived using the principle of conservation of angular momentum, aided by a systematic organization of the complex geometry. These equations are then numerically integrated for three specific cases providing roll, pitch, and yaw motions of the system. A scheme for extending the human body model to an N-body system is also presented. Finally, the practicality of human attitude control without the aid of controlling devices is discussed and a concept of a training jig for astronauts is presented.

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Instructor of Engineering Science. Formerly NDEA Graduate Fellow.

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