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SPHERES and Astrobee: Space Station Robotic Free FlyersFree-flying space robots can be used when humans are present to off-load routine work, to increase astronaut productivity, and to handle contingencies. The International Space Station (ISS), for example, is a continuously manned orbital laboratory the size of a large house, which contains many thousands of inventory items and hundreds of diverse payloads and experiments - all of which have to be managed by 6 person crew. To help with this, NASA is developing and testing robotic free-flyers on the ISS. SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) is an ISS facility with three nano-satellites designed to research estimation, control, and autonomy algorithms. SPHERES are volleyball-sized, have their own power, propulsion and navigation systems, and work on the ISS under astronaut supervision. For more than 10 years, NASA has made SPHERES available to other U.S. government agencies, schools, commercial companies and students as a platform for science, technology development, and education. SPHERES will soon be succeeded by the new Astrobee free-flying robot. Astrobee builds on the success of SPHERES, but in addition to research, the robot will also be used for housekeeping and monitoring duties without astronaut supervision. Astrobee makes extensive use of open-source (the complete software stack is available on GitHub) and is scheduled to be installed on the ISS in late Spring 2018.
Document ID
20180000392
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Benavides, Jose V. (SGT, Inc. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
January 16, 2018
Publication Date
November 15, 2017
Subject Category
Cybernetics, Artificial Intelligence And Robotics
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Social And Information Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN49360
Meeting Information
Meeting: Google Tech Talk
Location: Mountain View, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: November 15, 2017
Sponsors: Google, Inc.
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: IPA38-NA
WBS: WBS 277385.01.01.21
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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