Abstract: A joint-assisted exoskeleton scheme was designed for spacesuits to get rid of the influence of spacesuits’ resistance moment on astronauts' future space operation, planetary exploration and skeletal muscle recovery training. Firstly, the first-generation prototype of the joint-assisted exoskeleton was developed based on the structural analysis of the simulated spacesuit. Then, according to the feedback, the structure of the first-generation exoskeleton prototype was optimized. The design model of the second-generation exoskeleton prototype was preliminarily determined, and finite element software was used to carry out the static analysis and modal analysis of the exoskeleton prototype under load condition. Finally, the structural dimensions of the second-generation exoskeleton prototype was further optimized, the overall mass decreased by 19.34% and 40.03% compared with the unoptimized second-generation and the first-generation prototypes, which verified the feasibility and validity of the exoskeleton prototype structural optimization scheme. The simulation results provide a theoretical basis for the structural dynamics analysis and control system development of the active spacesuit.

Key words: active spacesuit, joint-assisted exoskeleton, structure optimization, resistance moment, finite element analysis