Intelligent spacecraft modules. Employing user-centered architecture with adaptable technology for...

64rd International Astronautical Congress, Beijing, China. Copyright ©2013 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.

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INTELLIGENT SPACECRAFT MODULES: EMPLOYING USER-‐CENTERED ARCHITECTURE WITH ADAPTABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DESIGN OF HABITABLE INTERIORS IN LONG-‐TERM MISSIONS.

Konstantinos-‐Alketas Oungrinis Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Marianthi Liapi Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, [email protected]

Elli Gkologkina Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Anna Kelesidi Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Despoina Linaraki Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Mariana Paschidi Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Leonidas Gargalis Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Aggelos Klothakis Technical University of Crete, Greece, [email protected]

Dimitris Mairopoulos Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, [email protected]

The paper presents the development of an on-‐going research project that focuses on a human-‐centered

design approach to habitable spacecraft modules. It focuses on the technical requirements and proposes approaches on how to achieve a spatial arrangement of the interior that addresses sufficiently the functional, physiological and psychosocial needs of the people living and working in such confined spaces that entail long-‐term environmental threats to human health and performance. Since the research perspective examines the issue from a qualitative point of view, it is based on establishing specific relationships between the built environment and its users, targeting people’s bodily and psychological comfort as a measure toward a successful mission. This research has two basic branches, one examining the context of the system’s operation and behavior and the other in the direction of identifying, experimenting and formulating the environment that successfully performs according to the desired context. The latter aspect is researched upon the construction of a scaled-‐model on which we run series of tests to identify the materiality, the geometry and the electronic infrastructure required. Guided by the principles of sensponsive architecture the research explores the application of the necessary spatial arrangement and behavior for a user-‐centered, functional interior where the appropriate intelligent systems are based upon the existing mechanical and chemical support ones featured on space today, and especially on the ISS. The problem is set according to the characteristics presented at the Mars500 project, regarding the living quarters of six crew-‐members, along with their hygiene, leisure and eating areas. Transformable design techniques introduce spatial economy, adjustable zoning and increased efficiency within the interior, securing at the same time precise spatial orientation and character at any given time. The sensponsive configuration is programmed to exhibit behavior in direct relation to human activity. It is based upon two active systems, the Activity Evaluation System (AES) and the Response System (RS), with combined action that is always open to the control of the user. The AES monitors the daily schedule of the astronauts in order to find patterns of activity, understand the context of actions and moreover to assess the psychological condition of the crew-‐members. If it finds cause for intervention AES will give way to the RS which employs smart materials, controllers and actuators in order to perform required changes in the environmental factors, both spatial (volume, surface) and ambient (audio, visual, olfactory, haptic), and induce a desirable spatial and/or psychological condition that is beneficial for the astronauts’ comfort and well being.


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I. INTRODUCTION This paper presents an on-‐going research project

taking place at the Transformable and Intelligent Environments Laboratory (TIE Lab) in the Department of Architecture at the Technical University of Crete (TUC). The TIE Lab is dedicated to the creation of environments that exhibit flexibility and adaptability by developing a human-‐centered, technology-‐driven architectural approach through the appropriate design methods and tools, fabrication techniques, and implementation strategies. Moreover, all research projects in the Lab are multi-‐disciplinary, based in the field of architecture, and from there on expanding their scope within the domains of computer and electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, psychology, pedagogy, neuroscience and endocrinology. The Intelligent Habitable Spacecraft Module project researches the connections between the interior space of a spacecraft and the astronauts’ activity and specifically the ways in which spatial stimulants can positively affect the human senses and consequently the hormonal changes and the production of the corresponding emotions and actions.

The design of spaces for astronauts is purely activity-‐oriented, as Sandra Häuplik-‐Meusburger points out.1 There should be a distinction though between spaces for short-‐range and long-‐range missions, as the crewmembers in the latter not only focus on their designated tasks but additionally they are responsible for every aspect of their confined spacecraft environment.2 In this regard, the design of such a demanding space should be also quality-‐oriented, exceeding the standards of a functional machine or piece of equipment.

The presented project studies all aspects around the design of the astronauts’ living quarters. Considering the critical structural issues resolved, we focus on the design issues that address functionality and quality, by targeting on the transformation of a neutral artificial "space" to a personalized, comfortable for the body and the mind, "place".3 There are three basic, correlated factors involved that must be taken into account during the design process:

1. The spatial factor: It involves the spatial layout and infrastructure that facilitates the optimum execution of the astronauts’ daily activity schedule despite the environmental restrictions.

2. The physiological factor: It involves the spatial configurations (add-‐on smart, flexible surfaces) that safeguard bodily comfort, without prohibiting their daily activity schedule.

3. The psychological factor: It involves the spatial stimulants (add-‐on sensor-‐actuator assemblies and smart materials) that safeguard the emotional state of the astronauts, without prohibiting their daily activity schedule.

The aforementioned factors are influenced by a sensponsive system, embedded within the spacecraft’s infrastructure, which is programmed to exhibit adaptability, character and behavior. The system itself employs both low-‐tech and high-‐tech features and is always controlled by the user. It operates in two ways – a basic functional one and a qualitative fine-‐tuning one.

Both systems operate through a sensor-‐logic-‐actuator process but have different output perception-‐wise. They are equipped with specific monitoring devices, smart materials and a network of sensor-‐actuator assemblies with a palette of possible combinations of programmed re-‐actions (haptic, olfactory, chromatic and so on) in order to assess and facilitate and/or mediate. Functional issues, regarding human activities, are addressed quite straightforwardly, employing mainly spatial economy and big scale modifications. Qualitative issues, as emotional discomfort, lead the system to respond discreetly with selected ‘stimulants’ in the ambient environment to alleviate the psychological condition. The existing high-‐end technological infrastructure in space-‐flight environments provides a fertile ground for the implementation of the required sensponsive system.

Fig. 1: A schematic visualization of the surrounding

environment affects the human senses.


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I. OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK The Activity Evaluation System (AES) and the

Response System (RS) are based on the findings of our research branch that examines the links between the artificial environment that architecture creates and human psychology. In particular, we are mapping the way in which the spatial features and qualities affect the sensory system and in turn the endocrine system that produces hormones carrying emotional and physiological information. In particular, we are examining the way people perceive colors and light, noise, sound and music, smells and scents, materiality and temperature.

Apart from the psychological load for a successful mission, the personal and interpersonal conditions most commonly associated with long-‐term space missions are related with seclusion and the limited options regarding activities that result to stresses like depression, boredom, and isolation anxiety.

Fig. 2: A diagrammatic association between spatial

qualities, hormones and feelings.

III. SENSPONSIVE LOGIC The development of Information Technology (IT)

integrated architecture has a path to an “empathic” space4 where the whole spectrum of human activity will be understood in the appropriate context and the responses to it will be the analogue of any communication with a truly intelligent entity. Towards this path, sensponsive architecture aims to understand specific elements in human activity and respond to them, through a mediated environment, incorporating a portion of sense to the response and creating a context for the way space performs and the way it learns from the past. We are targeting communication, connectivity and the emergence of a spatial, assistive 'consciousness.' Sensponsive architecture has an intermediate role that fits and

follows, similarly to a simple organism that lacks complex cognitive abilities and yet retains a relative co-‐existence with people by understanding the key factors that affect their symbiotic relationship and establishing a channel of meaningful communication.

A sensponsive space is an assistive space, technologically enhanced so as to be capable of meaningful communication and moreover to facilitate the users’ preferences, goals and expectations. In the case of habitable spacecraft modules, the sensponsive system allows the customization of the astronauts’ living quarters, based on standard allowances for personalized environments, aiming in the creation of a "cozy" environment that safeguards the physiological and the psychological health of the astronauts. It uses a combination of low-‐tech and high-‐tech techniques and operates manually or automatically (with fine-‐tuning mode set by default to automation unless there is strong opposition stated). It is basically an add-‐on layer that can be applied to any existing space. It operates in two main phases employing hardware and software: the first phase aims to 'sense and understand' while the second decides upon the best possible way to 'respond'. The second has two types of reaction, basic and fine-‐adjustment, that address different issues. The first phase employs various types of sensors that measure and quantify human and environmental related information. It also includes precision motion tracking devices that record the movement patterns of the individuals within space, and cameras to identify facial expression through analysis software that is able to identify a certain number of emotional states of the individual in a given time.5

The ambiguous conditions in microgravity lead us to identify a condition only through a verification process from multiple perspectives. For that reason, a more detailed diagnosis is achieved with the correlation of results that include biomedical data, fine kinetic movements, eye tracking and other information gathered from the immediate and the surrounding environment of the astronauts. Machine learning algorithms express the grade of ‘confidence’ for a result, recognizing patterns of activity, understanding the context of actions and moreover assessing the psychological condition of the crew-‐members. If it finds cause for intervention it will perform subtle changes in the environmental factors, namely spatial stimulants, to induce a desirable psychological state that is beneficial for the astronauts and their mission. The manifestation of those spatial stimulants is directed in the fine-‐tuning type of response, operating in the second phase and includes smart materials, and actuators. The


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response targets the individual’s senses to stably help the person feel comfortable. The responses can be related, for example, to changes concerning geometry, light, temperature, texture, sound, color and smell.

Fig. 3: A diagrammatic representation of how the

sensponsive system functions.

Within this framework and in order to employ ambient intelligence to achieve a sensible spatial configuration6 that aims to cognitive processes, the system addresses the targeted issues at three spatial zones, presented later in greater detail. Artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning processes, oriented to avoid determinism, govern the control system. Overall, the creation of a sensponsive system, embedded within architectural space, must take the following five factors into consideration:

1. It must support human activities spatially, physically and psychologically by taking informed decisions and acting on them.

2. It must maintain a relative low profile in its operation (regarding programming and formal patterns) and act only when required.

3. It must be non-‐invasive, exhibiting mild reactions. It must also be equipped with some level of control, like a log-‐off switch.

4. It must form a seamless connection between the design environment and its smart assemblies that operate with a simple control interface. Maintenance should also be reduced.

5. Last, but most important of all, it must be capable of meaningful communication. If the embedded system exhibits sense in the way it understands and reacts, then it will gain people’s trust more quickly.

These goals can only be achieved through a human-‐centered approach in order to reduce the feeling of the uncanny 7 and to provide patterns of human behavior in relation to space. These patterns must be continuously analyzed to provide the ad-‐hoc critical parameters that must be monitored and addressed in a timely manner to achieve comfort and spatial efficiency.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION OF THE SENSPONSIVE SYSTEM ON AN INTELLIGENT

HABITABLE MODULE Our sensponsive design proposal focuses on a

module that hosts the living quarters of six astronauts along with their hygiene, leisure and eating areas. All of our design standards and measurements are based on the Mars500 project while our information on the daily activity schedule was based on data from the International Space Station during 2011. We employ the cylindrical 3.6 × 20 m (12 × 66 ft) module that consists of six individual crew compartments sized 3 m2 (or 32 sq ft), a kitchen-‐dining room, a living room, the main control room, and a toilet.8

Fig. 4: A 3d visual representation of the experimental

isolation facility located in Moscow. The image was retrieved on 29 December of 2012 from http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Mars500/SEMACUISDNG_mg_1.html.

Our key criteria for an activity-‐based, quality-‐

oriented, human-‐centered design approach are: -‐ Spatial economy, meaning the acquisition of the largest space possible during the time it is needed. -‐ Long line of sight and sense of whole from certain viewpoints while maintaining a constant spatial local orientation matrix. -‐ Provisions for private space. -‐ Psychological factors stabilization. -‐ Psychological factors assistance.


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The design approach initially studied the daily scheduled and independent activities of the six crew-‐members to create the architectural equivalent of a building program in order to allocate spaces that work in succession, yet complimentary to one another. By employing 'spatial economy' and 'transformability design' practices 9 we ended up with the following working spatial arrangement within the cylindrical module: The two installation areas, meaning the hygiene compartment with the toilet and the shower/sauna cabin as well as the part from the eating area that includes the kitchen compartment with the food storage and preparation equipment, are located at the two ends of the module.

The space in-‐between is divided to facilitate the sleeping, leisure and dining activities. According to the adopted ISS program, none of those activities take place at the same time -‐although there is always a probability that they will do in a small amount. The most unique spatial arrangement was the creation of six secluded spaces for the crewmembers’ private compartments, which should be able to maintain a minimum surface and volume analogy when they are non-‐operational. According to this scenario, when the crewmembers eat, they do not use their rooms and do not engage in exercises, so the size of the respective areas can be reduced to give that extra space to the busy dining area. This operation is the basic phase of the system that acts upon recognizing a specific activity or instigating activity instances that deems beneficial: it proposes major spatial changes to accommodate better a condition.

Overall, the interior spaces are dynamically related as follows:

-‐ The eating area is connected to the kitchen and the leisure area and can be separated by lightweight materials. It has an adjustable size that can expand in its maximum deployment along the whole leisure area if the astronauts require it. The sitting arrangements can be inflatable, secured with Velcro or magnets, a fact that can provide great variety in its location. -‐ The leisure area is located between the sleeping compartments and the eating area. It acts as a regulator between the two spaces and its size can be expanded to a maximum of half the habitable volume of the whole module, allowing plenty of space for even physical games. It can be reduced dramatically when the crew rests. -‐ Each one of the private compartment units is designed to expand and to alter its volume according to the interior activity. In its expanded version it can even host two crew-‐members. It is the main environment where the fine-‐tuning operation of the sensponsive system is currently

applied. It is a cylinder placed within the greater cylindrical module that can work either individually or as a group with the rest of the compartments. When it functions in the individual mode, it operates as a microenvironment designed to change either for functional reasons (having a better experience while watching a movie) or qualitative aspects that target fine perception (a hybrid function between projected and actuated changes) and affect the sense of size and the characteristics of the prevailing conditions.

Changes on the physical level can micromanage either exact or customized anthropometric specifications as well as the geometrical features and the semantics of the perceived surrounding environment. Lighting and projections provide visual stimuli, while audio, tactile and olfactory characteristics help create a 'believable' experience that gives the impression of an escape. Another function that is extremely beneficial is the ability of each unit to rotate individually creating artificial gravity by the centrifuge forces. The specific function will be operated only during sleep and/or when the body has the specific lying position, thus augmenting the sense of being in a familiar environment and helping the health of the space travellers by protecting bone integrity and muscle mass.

Fig. 5: Expansion phases of the private living

compartments. The embedded automations mediate to help each resident to be efficient in her/his tasks while maintaining a healthy psychological state. This works best by combining them with traditional approaches that promote the feeling of a more


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personal, cozy and familiar space. These practices are low-‐tech and include surfaces to put pictures, mementos, and other small artifacts with high personal value. Sophisticated techniques can be employed to augment the value of these approaches by reconfiguring some elements such as chairs, the colors of the walls and the geometry of the unit’s interior space, or even by projecting a specific background to produce a more immersive experience. If more intense changes are desired, the astronauts can apply them manually.

In general the sensponsive system adds another layer of functionality and meaning to traditional design by actively addressing distinctive issues related to psychological deviant behaviors. It is specifically designed to combat the variety of psychosocial stresses (stressful parameters) aboard.10

The system operates in three sensorial spatial zones, as stated earlier, around each individual astronaut11:

1. The personal-‐immediate "Space of the Body" (B zone),

2. The peri-‐personal "Space around the Body" (Env. I zone), and

3. The extended-‐overall "Space of Navigation" that can be viewed from afar and can be reached physically with some effort (Env. II zone).

Every zone affects the astronauts’ senses differently. In terms of sight, the B zone, for example, has an exceptionally limited visual input, but on the other hand it is replete with the sensorial stimuli that affect the senses of touch, hearing and smell. The Env. I zone is the first one with a geometrical input while the Env. II zone offers 'anchoring' and 'spatial beacons' by providing lines of sight, landmarks and points of reference. The sense of smell works differently around the zones as well. The B zone is characterized by personal odours, the Env. I zone involves general smells close to the body as well as the distinct smell of ionization of the atmosphere, while zone Env. II is only reached by strong odors that affect all crew-‐members.

The number of astronauts that get affected by the spatial stimulants that the sensponsive system induces is also related to the cognitive spatial zoning. Changes in the Env. II zone, for example, affect the entirety of the crew and thus it is instrumental to consider its size when planning for all the members through social activities or group behaviors. Zone B on the other hand is involved exclusively with the individual and it has more to do with personal contemplation, regrouping and meditation for a balanced, positive behavior.

Fig. 6: A list of the stimulants that are recognized by the system in each spatial cognitive zone.


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It is extremely important to secure through design (with colors or materials) the stable points of spatial reference for all three zones so that each astronaut can maintain with ease the sense of orientation (up-‐and-‐down).

The sensponsive system is context-‐oriented and works only in the direction to create environmental triggers that bring a desired emotional state to the users of the specific environment. It operates only when there are measurements outside a comfort zone and external factors are necessitated to normalize the situation. It does not work immediately and it does not involve radical effects but gradually and discreetly it acts to avoid raising psychological defences.

The system monitors the astronauts’ activity (movement and expressions) and by measuring some critical data it can identify emotional states. This is achieved by a period of machine learning processes (our initial findings show that reinforced learning method is the most suitable) during which the astronauts are monitored and thereafter fill-‐in specific questionnaires regarding their emotional states during the time of monitoring.

When the system is ready it will be able to follow patterns as well as to identify an emotional state even by the slightest hints or even before it reaches an 'obvious' manifestation. The system will continue to follow the activity until it reaches a "high-‐confidence" phase regarding a situation in which it must respond. After this decision, another process of decision-‐making begins. This time there is a variety of possible remedies to be considered, usually combinations of visual, tactile and olfactory stimuli, which can directly, yet subtly address the situation. It follows a probabilistic method that guides different paths to avoid over-‐familiarity that leads to indifference and subsequently it is rendered ineffectual.

The first actions are always recon-‐oriented in order to get feedback if the reaction is positive. The action resumes if the system gets the desired response from the person and continues to manifest gradually. When the action has reached the desired effect, the system could continue to exhibit the same elements but it is programmed to initiate some kind of more literal of an action so that the person becomes more engaged. The system can then manage inconspicuously to move back to the original spatial arrangement.

Fig. 7: The sensponsive output capabilities of the unit.

V. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY The interior space of a module that operates in

such a hostile environment is better arranged in layers. The outer shell is the most critical layer since it provides the safe conditions for any life to exist within it and perform. The protection from radiation and micrometeroids is mounted here, as well as the structural elements and the main insulation techniques. An intermediate layer provides the electrical-‐mechanical equipment, the electronic infrastructure as well as storage space. It ends with the inner surface, the threshold where the living space starts. In this layer most of the monitoring, communicating and actuating devices of our system are located.

More precisely, the system is programmed to affect the 3 aforementioned spatial cognitive zones (zones B, Env. I and Env. II) 1) by implementing specific micromechanisms on the clothes and on specific apparatuses the astronauts use, 2) by affecting the immediate surroundings of the space around the body and 3) by affecting overall characteristics of the ambient atmosphere of the space of navigation. The parts of the systems consist of: -‐ Mechanical systems that create flexible, transformable surfaces.

o They affect geometrical and perspective characteristics. They employ mechanical actuators, such as motors, pistons, air-‐


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valves, springs, magnets, scissor-‐frames, and other.

o They can change arrangement configurations and can act as movable partitions/boundaries

-‐ Visual systems o Ambient systems that include lighting/luminescence systems, color changing materials, LED configurations that act as visual landmarks or orientation beacons

o Specific/literate visual equipment that comprise mostly from flexible OLED screens that either have a specific use such as communication, movies, news,etc, or project a surrounding such as forests, beaches or anything that can create the sense of ‘open-‐space’ and let the eye-‐view ‘drift’ away.

-‐ Audio Systems o Surround effect systems, such as speakers that either play definite sounds in a specific context (music) or ambient sounds, working in conjunction with the other systems for a more immersive environment.

o Personal sound systems, like directional speakers, that affect individuals and target personal situations All these systems can also generate high or low frequency sounds to achieve their purpose in creating more influential conditions

-‐ Olfactory systems o Personal targeted devices spray specific essences discreetly to be perceived only by the specific individual

o Ambient devices affect the general space and work in conjunction with the other systems for a more immersive environment. It requires spraying and special devices are required to homogeneously disperse the tiny droplets in the microgravity environment.

-‐ Haptic Systems o They are directed mostly to personal experiences although they can be used in common settings to produce a collective experience. Tactile changes are performed through smart materials that change texture like shape memory polymers or electro-‐restrictive.

o Adjusted frequency vibrators can be placed on cloths or on surfaces providing precision massage and muscle-‐relaxing

o A possibility for a type of acupuncture through small electrical discharges has been raised that could act beneficially in a

number of situations and can affect hormonal balance effectively.

o Thermal adjustments are the one effect that can be either personal or regional. Personal actuators are installed on clothes or surfaces used by a single person. Regional affect a whole area and work in conjunction with the other systems for a more immersive environment.

VI. COMPATIBILITY STUDY

The project aims to enter an evaluation phase by being included in a series of experiments fostered by space agencies. In order to tackle more comprehensively the issues examined and describe in detail the requirements necessary to perform the tests, a mock-‐up is built, upon which the proposed systems for the materialization of the sensponsive module are tested. This is an operating model where we integrate individual systems, aiming to accurately specify and form the whole operational system. At this stage it is an emulation as we employ market electronics to define the logic, circuitry and sensor/actuator specifications.

Hardware and software is explored to achieve the most efficient way to produce the designed results. The research upon the development of the system follows a schedule of experiments to test the various aspects of our proposal, especially in using similar equipment with the ones already operating on the ISS. We test different settings individually, in order to handle complexity, and assemble virtually the whole system piece by piece. The issues aimed at the experiment at this point have to do with the qualities of personal space, and specifically comfort, spaciousness and familiarity.

Technically the AES is based on a cloud of sensors and the combination of many data results. It does not find conclusive results but possibilities with various degrees of confidence. AES is based on a platform that is customized upon each crew-‐member even before take-‐off and it is continuously re-‐adjusted as time passes and new hormonal balances occur. The data identified to be of importance in order to assess the state of the astronauts, handled by the AES are:

-‐ Perspiration -‐ Breathing -‐ Eye tracking -‐ Facial expression -‐ Movement patterns -‐ Fine motion tracking -‐ Voice patterns (tone) -‐ EEG patterns


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Fig. 8: Diagrams and description of the system

installed.

The AES may be heavily dependent upon existing Life Support Systems (LSS) to gather data. The LSS features that are cooperative with the AES operation are:

-‐ the monitoring of air flow characteristics to detect ambient temperature and pressure levels connected with activity,

-‐ the air consistency to detect type and intensity of breathing,

-‐ the odor detection that help identify certain hormonal changes through perspiration,

-‐ the precise temperature and pressure sensors that can indicate tension features and movement,

-‐ the sleep-‐EEG recording that can present abnormal patterns from anxiety,

-‐ the continuous recording of activity data that can capture the deviations from normal kinetic patterns, including fine sensor-‐motor characteristics,

-‐ the continuous recording of body temperature that can detect unusual instances

-‐ the visual monitoring system that can detect eye tracking, movement and facial expression patterns

-‐ the microphone system to detect deviation from normal voice patterns.

Fig. 9: Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System Diagram. The image was retrieved on 27 August of 2013 from www.nasa.gov/marshall

The RS has two phases, one functional with radical movement and one fine-‐tuning with small unperceivable ambient alterations. There are some pieces of equipment that can be employed for parallel use from the RS systems, such as those related to oxygen provision, to affect slightly metabolic conditions, lighting and temperature control, but there are not kinetic elements to address spatial issues.

The actuation assemblies must be developed through experimentation on scaled prototypes and be tested for the types of response deemed appropriate for the given conditions. The complimentary action of the two types of the RS operation must also be explored adequately as they perform better when a spatial arrangement augments a condition by type 1 actions (basic) and ‘momentum’ is maintained by employing type 2 (fine-‐tuning) ambient adjustments.


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Fig. 10: Experiments on a working model in scale

regarding basic spatial arrangements at the TIE Lab.

VII. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE STEPS

Overall this paper demonstrates the advancements of a research project on the approach for designing intelligent habitable modules on spacecrafts, focusing especially on long-‐range missions, to address the critical issues of efficiency and psychological discomfort produced by the isolated, enclosed environment. A human-‐centered design approach, titled sensponsive, aims to combine traditional design techniques, which focus on an activity-‐based approach, with intelligent systems that can recognize and understand the context of the activities taking place as well as the emotional state of the people involved. As a case study, it focuses on the habitable module of the Project Mars500, and uses the same habitable volume to create a space that exhibits the aforementioned characteristics.

As design novelties, spatial economy and spatial zoning are introduced and transformable techniques are used. The proposal blurs the boundaries of space as a whole, while it manages to have precise and obvious spatial orientation and character at any given time. Using the layers of the structural logic and expanding them to private spaces that can also provide small artificial gravity areas, distinct personal spaces are created. These spaces are the main target of this proposal, aiming to create an environment that can act as comfortable for the body and the mind ‘place’ and provide the astronauts with surroundings for contemplation, relaxation, imagination, rest, belief, even escape (vicariously). It also provides the controlled environment for a special procedure to take place in order to stabilize and improve the crew’s psychological state, making

its members feel better and consequently perform better on their mission tasks.

The project has reached the phase where the feasibility of its application must be facilitated by implementing the existing infrastructure on the ISS to its design. The goal is to use the advanced monitoring system integrated and to operate the actuation through the devices already fitted. This means that the tested technology can be employed and reduces the requirements for development of totally new equipment. Furthermore, the working scaled model provides a platform for individual system testing and better visualization of the project as a sum of parts. Testing this approach in small segments is feasible and produces a crude overview. However, a complete module design in a large experiment is required, equal to the Mars 500 project. We are quite confident that such a design approach is an effective, and even mandatory, solution for providing habitable and desirable environments for astronauts in future missions, as well as acting as a testing ground to facilitate the wide application to terrestrial architecture addressing spatially the psychological issues relating to the hectic and stressful living in a non-‐pharmaceutical way.

1 Häuplik-‐Meusburger, S. (2011). Architecture for Astronauts. An activity based Approach. Wien: Springer Verlag.

2 Kitmatcher, G. (2002). Design of the space station habitable modules. Houston, Texas, USA: 53rd International Astronautical Congress/The World Space Congress, 2002. pp. 8-‐9. IAC-‐02-‐IAA.8.2.04.

3 Lawson, Bryan. (1999). The Language of Space. Oxford, UK: Architectural Press. 4 Addington, M, and Schodek, D. (2005). Smart Materials and Technologies for the Architecture and Design

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6 Augusto, J.C. (2007). Ambient Intelligence: the confluence of ubiquitous/pervasive computing and artificial intelligence. In Intelligent Computing Everywhere, pp. 213-‐234, London: Springer

7 Freud, S. (1955). The 'Uncanny'. In J. Strachey, J. (Ed. And Trans.). The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. (vol. 17, pp. 217-‐56). London: Hogarth. (Original work published in 1917).

8 The Mars500 isolation facility. In: http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Mars500/SEM64OBDNRF_0.html (Retrieved 15.

9 Oungrinis, K.A., (2006). Transformations: Paradigms for Designing Transformable Spaces. Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard GSD Design and Technologies Report Series.

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