Video: NASA’s Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS)

The Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) is designed to simulate reduced gravity environments, such as Lunar, Martian, or microgravity, using a system similar to an overhead bridge crane. ARGOS uses an inline load cell to continuously offload of a portion of a human or robotic subject’s weight during all dynamic motions, which can include walking, running, and jumping under Lunar or Martian gravities, as well as a wide range of microgravity activities.

The Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) is designed to simulate reduced gravity environments, such as Lunar, Martian, or microgravity, using a system similar to an overhead bridge crane. ARGOS uses an inline load cell to continuously offload of a portion of a human or robotic subject’s weight during all dynamic motions, which can include walking, running, and jumping under Lunar or Martian gravities, as well as a wide range of microgravity activities.

Using a cable angle sensor, ARGOS actively tracks and follows the subject’s motion in all horizontal directions to maintain a vertical offload force. The facility is capable of supporting surface operation studies, suit and vehicle requirements development, suit and vehicle design evaluation, and crew training with both suited and shirt-sleeved subjects. The ARGOS facility is rapidly reconfigurable and allows for a quick turnaround between different tests and a variety of surface or training analogs.