Hunter Alvis, a doctoral candidate at Texas Woman's University, has developed a wearable technology designed to reduce shoulder injuries among astronauts. The invention addresses the physical strain caused by bulky spacesuits, which often force awkward arm movements that lead to joint damage.
Alvis holds a patent for the device alongside his mentor, Rhett Rigby, PhD, and two former students. The technology utilizes Inertial Measurement Units, or portable sensors, to monitor the wearer's arm angles. When the system detects an unsafe position, it signals the user to adjust their posture before injury occurs.
The project evolved from work done by an undergraduate kinesiology team in spring 2023. Alvis expanded upon their initial prototype by integrating advanced motion sensors. He has received three fellowships from the Texas Space Grant Consortium for this research, including a maximum award of $15,000 in January 2026.
Alvis presented his findings at the annual Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge in April. The event is sponsored by NASA, and he was invited to showcase his work alongside TWU undergraduates. That same undergraduate team won first place with their project.
His interest in this specific medical issue stems from personal experience. Alvis stopped playing baseball in high school due to severe shoulder pain. He stated that this background helps him understand the discomfort astronauts face while performing tasks in space.
Before shifting his focus to aerospace medicine, Alvis studied the biomechanics of wheelchairs to assist adaptive athletes. His father is a double amputee, and Alvis originally aimed to help athletes like his father compete more effectively. He credited the combined expertise of Rigby and kinesiology professor Young-Hoo Kwon for preparing him to merge engineering and physiology in his current work.
