The MARS (Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space) conference is a yearly event hosted by Amazon founder and executive chair Jeff Bezos. MARS brings together innovative minds to share new ideas across these rapidly advancing domains.

At this year's conference, Media Lab director Dava Newman presented the 3D Knit BioSuit™—a multidisciplinary, collaborative work involving groups across MIT, including the Media Lab, Architecture Self-Assembly Lab, AeroAstro Human Systems Lab, and ME  Multifunctional Metamaterials Group. Additional contributions to the work came from industry collaborators Ministry of Supply (an MIT spinoff), Trotti Studio (an architecture firm), and EXEON (a design firm).

The  3D Knit BioSuit™—a prototype compression sleeve for the MIT BioSuit™—contributes to the development of advanced extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit technologies. The MIT BioSuit™ aims to provide uniform skin pressure using a compressive garment, a concept known as mechanical counterpressure (MCP), to protect the human body from the effects of vacuum in space. This "second skin" technology is designed to be an order of magnitude less bulky and significantly more mobile compared to traditional gas-pressurized EVA spacesuits that have been used in human spaceflight for over 50 years.

This new prototype is an arm sleeve section of the suit, providing compression using a specialized multi-layered 3D knitting strategy, and leveraging multi-functional polyethylene fibers as both a flexible and high-tenacity material that provides pressure, thermoregulation, and partial radiation protection. Improved donning/doffing capabilities were added using a two-layer construction in the 3D knit sleeve: a zippered inner base layer and a magnetic ratchet mechanism to close the outer high-compression layer.

This work is the first BioSuit™ prototype with integrated smart sensing to monitor applied pressures and body movement, using thermal-drawn stretchable sensing fibers, an inertial measurement unit, accelerometer, gyroscope, and on-board machine learning algorithms to provide real-time sensor information. This wearable technology also incorporates a wireless graphical user interface (GUI) to enable astronauts to monitor suit pressure status, performance, and detection of anomalies.

This research demonstrates state-of-the art technology, novel 3D knit manufacturing techniques, and revealed a new portable life support system backpack for the BioSuit™  spacesuit—envisioning our interplanetary future.

MIT BioSuit™ / 3D Knit BioSuit™ project team (L-R, above):

• Ganit Goldstein (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)
• Svetlana V Boriskina (MIT Multifunctional Metamaterials Group)
• Donald Derek Haddad (MIT Media Lab Responsive Environments group)
• Emelie A Eldracher  (MIT UG, Ministry of Supply intern)
• Rachel Bellisle (MIT Human Systems Laboratory)
• Guillermo Herrera-Arcos (MIT Media Lab Biomechatronics group)
• Cody Paige (MIT Human Systems Laboratory)
• Michal Kracik (EXEON)
• Professor Dava Newman (Director, MIT Media Lab)
• Guillermo Trotti (Trotti Studio)
• Professor Skylar Tibbits (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)
• Gihan Amarasiriwardena (Ministry of Supply)
• Volodymyr Korolovych (MIT Multifunctional Metamaterials Group)
• Lavender Tessmer (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)