Testing of Electrically Heated Gloves for Cold Environments

Prototypes of electrically-heated gloves have been designed, constructed, and tested along side other glove designs to evaluate various approaches to glove features. Two glove designs and two heater-controller designs, developed in-house, plus two commercial glove systems and an experimental glove system developed by the Army were tested. Testing consisted of employing the gloves while performing tasks in cold chambers. The results sought and obtained are subjective. Testing indicated that the in-house-designed glove system provided sufficient warmth under the test conditions specified by NASA scientists who are experienced working in Antarctica. The insulating ability of the commercial gloves and the dexterity of the Army-designed gloves were found preferable to those of the NASA prototypes. Additionally, testing showed that a single feedback temperature sensor per glove is adequate, as compared with individual temperature zones for each finger and thumb. Recommendations for a next generation glove system design are made based on the results of this testing.