Passive Stability Lock
Hands-free, flush-mounted magnetic anchor for Zero-G stability.
PSL surface view: the exposed topside features of a PSL for IVA.
The Problem
Astronaut time is incredibly expensive. Zero-G stabilization is incredibly burdensome. Astronauts waste time and energy stabilizing themselves with methods that are cumbersome and hands that should be working.
The SOLUTION
My goal is to create a sleek, completely flush floor that remains entirely hands-free and throughout normal use, without requiring a power source.
It can make a user’s footing rock solid, enable 360-degree pivoting in place, and it all fits within a 2-inch height envelope, 6 inches in diameter. It locks a user in well under a second, and its design/ form factor are meant to evoke a stark contrast with the blue or gray fraying straps cluttering a station floors at present.
The user experience is detailed here:
PSL surface- ghost view: detailing all exposed or hidden features contained within the ‘surface’ structures- the breech ring & floating bezel.
PSL is meant to be flexible and adaptable, featuring different modes within the self-contained unit, but there is also rationale for modularity via swappable parts- ex: differing levels of torque-resistance, IVA/EVA use case, L/R chirality. Some of those considerations have been made here:
Current State
PSL ghost cutaway view: current CAD-level work in progress.
PSL isometric quarter section view: top surface & capture mechanism
Working specification files are currently being translated to CAD work within Fusion, where 3D modeling & simulation can prevent costly errors in down the line.
Next Steps
1. CAM work for precision manufacturing.
2. Many research questions remain. And there are several ways to validate a PSL prototype in Earth’s 1g: