Towards a Hand Exoskeleton for a Smart EVA Glove

In this paper we investigate the key factors associated with the realization of a hand exoskeleton that could be embedded in an astronaut glove for EVA (Extra Vehicular Activities). Such a project poses several and varied problems, mainly due to the complex structure of the human hand and to the extreme environment in which the glove operates. This work provides an overview of existing exoskeletons and their related technologies and lays the ground for the forthcoming prototype realization, by presenting a preliminary analysis of possible solutions in terms of mechanical structure, actuators and sensors.