An electromyography monitoring device developed by a Chinese research team recently successfully completed an in-orbit experiment. The device can be used in space for real-time assessment of astronaut muscle status and human-machine interaction, providing important technical support for astronaut health protection and space-based human-machine interaction technology.
The Qingzhou Cargo Space Test Vehicle released the latest batch of in-orbit test result, including an EMG monitoring device developed by a team from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology.
The Qingzhou Space Cargo Test Vehicle was launched into space on March 30, 2026. It carried five medical projects, including an EMG monitoring device, for the world's first future space hospital initiated by SUAT.
Astronauts who spend long periods in microgravity conditions experience a significant reduction in muscle loading .
This leads to a decrease in the frequency of muscle fiber contractions and accelerated protein breakdown, leading to various problems, such as muscle atrophy . Accurate, continuous, and real-time monitoring of astronaut muscle health remains a major challenge in space life science and space medicine.
Currently, the International Space Station primarily uses muscle strength testing and ultrasound imaging, while China's space station evaluates muscle atrophy through operational force and optical measurements.
However, current methods are generally hampered by high costs, inadequate real-time continuity, and the inability to document muscle conditions directly.
The team, led by SIAT researcher Wang Yishan, proposed an EMG monitoring solution based on neural signal detection, which enables dynamic evaluation of muscle status through real-time acquisition and analysis of EMG signals.
Armed with a previously independently developed neural signal detection chip, the team successfully created an EMG detection device and completed various aerospace adaptation modifications.
To meet the device's requirements in the complex space environment, the team conducted a series of ground experiments, including vibration testing, thermal cycling testing, and interface matching between the payload and the spacecraft, to ensure the stability and reliability of the chip and device in space.
Following the launch of the Qingzhou Cargo Spacecraft, the team conducted an in-orbit test. Under remote control from the ground, the test successfully completed the tasks of acquiring, storing, and transmitting simulated data.
Data received on the ground indicated that the test went smoothly. The results obtained from the device were consistent with expected data, indicating that the chip and device can operate stably and reliably in microgravity conditions and are suitable for operating conditions in space.
The success of the in-orbit test further advances life-sustaining technology in space, and could contribute to the development of ground-based medical health, human-machine interaction, and smart wearable devices .
The results released this time also include a handheld blood cell analyzer, which no longer relies on bulky medical equipment and instructions from the ground.
In July 2025, SUAT signed an agreement with the CAS-sponsored Innovation Academy for Microsatellites to jointly build a future space hospital.
The initiative aims to improve astronaut and human health protection, as well as expand the capabilities of in-orbit medical monitoring and life support systems, with a focus on more advanced disease prevention and treatment technologies.
