The Sharp Edge Detection Tool
Channel: UNLVECE
Date: 2018-02-17

The Sharp Edge Detection Tool is being created for the specific use of astronauts performing Extravehicular Activities (EVA), more commonly known as spacewalks. During EVAs, astronauts have certain lifelines, like tethers and harnesses, to help them remain attached to the space shuttles. Another one of those lifelines is hand railings bolted to the exterior the space shuttles. These hand railing can suffer from micrometeoroids and orbital debris collisions which can cause craters with jagged or sharp edges to form. The craters can have sharp lips that are as small as a hundredth of an inch. Due to low visibility and hefty suits, individual detection of these craters is not always possible from the astronauts. A small and sharp crater can cause severe damage to an astronauts’ suits, especially the gloves. Thus, this tool will detect and warn the astronaut of an identified crater in the hand railing. Using high contrast cameras and detection software, the tool will scan for these miniscule craters. From the images it is able to capture, it will process them on the spot to distinguish if one of these small craters is present on any of the 3 faces of these hand rails. If a crater is detected, the user will immediately be alerted by the flashing and color change of the LCD display. The tool will be a handheld and easily operated even through the gloves of an astronaut. 
Due to its specific nature, the tool is being designed for one specific purpose. There are no current market solutions and it is unlikely there will be much competition once a successful tool is created.