Title:

Microgravity Plyometric Exercise Machine

All life on Earth has adapted to the constant force that is exerted by Earths gravitational pull. Microgravity describes environments where the force of gravity is negligible or zero, resulting in a sensation of weightlessness. Long term exposure to microgravity results in muscle atrophy and a decrease in bone mineral density due to the fact that the gravitational force the body has adapted to oppose is nonexistent. Research shows that consistent exercise is the most effective method of mitigating these negative effects. The purpose of this project is to design, build and test an exercise device that allows for plyometric training in a microgravity environment without the need of an external power source. The vast majority of exercises that are performed on Earth rely on the downward force provided by gravity. The device will use a combination of band and flywheel resistance to provide a downward force on the user that is independent of gravity. The user will be able to perform squats, lunges and pull-ups with a focus on explosive movement. Acquiring appropriate muscle fatigue will be the benchmark for success for this design, as fatigue is an early-stage sign of muscular hypertrophy.

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