ASTROBEE
Source: indianexpress NASA
Why in News?
For the first time ever, two astrobee robots have begun working independently on the International Space Station, side by side with humans
What is Astrobee?
Astrobee is NASA's new free-flying robotic system
It will help Astronauts reduce the time that they spent on routine duties, leaving them more time to focus on things only humans can do.
It can work autonomously or via remote control by astronauts, flight controllers or researchers on the ground.
The robots are designed to complete tasks such as taking inventory and documenting experiments conducted by astronauts with their built-in cameras or working together to move cargo throughout the Station
Astrobee also consists of a system that serves as a research platform that can be outfitted and programmed to conduct microgravity experiments
Honey, Queen, bumble
- The three flying robots are named Honey, Queen, and bumble, they are shaped like cubes 12.5 inches wide
- The Astrobee consists of three cube-shaped robots, some software and a docking charging station used for recharging, they are about 32 centimetres wide
- The three robots propel themselves using electric fans that allow them to fly through the microgravity environment of the International Space Station
- They look around and navigate their surroundings using cameras and Sensors
- All the robots are equipped with a perching arm that allows them to handrails to either conserve energy or grab and hold items
- When they are running low on charge, they will get back to the docking station for recharging
About Astrobee
- Astrobee robots are built on the knowledge acquired from operating SPHERES (Synchronised Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite) robots which have been operating in the International Space Station for over a decade
- Once fully commissioned, the Astrobee system will take over for SPHERES as the space station's robotic test facility
- In the latest development, Bumble tested its navigation ability in the harmony module and gathered new station mapping data while Queen captured its 360-degree panoramic image of the interior of the orbital laboratory
- The mapping imaging experiments conducted by Astrobee are part of the Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking (ISAAC) project managed at NASA's Ames Research Centre
- As a Part of ISAAC, project scientists have been teaching Astrobee to autonomously support spacecraft monitoring, maintenance and other tasks. Apart from making space missions safer and more cost-effective, Astrobees could manage routine chores that would free up human operators for more complex work
- Even more importantly, Astrobees could be instrumental in future space crafts that won't be crewed year around, like Gateway Space Station, these will need autonomous robots to keep things runnings while humans are away
About SPHERES
SPHERES consists of three flying satellites on board the International Space Station that test a diverse range of hardware and software from scientists all over America
SPHERES has been active for 10 years and continues to be one of the most popular projects of NASA and a favourite of many Astronauts who are fortunate enough to work with the SPHERE project
