Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have a new robotic companion. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Int-Ball is a spherical camera that resides in the Japanese module “Kibo” on the ISS. Manufactured entirely by 3D printing, and using existing drone technology, it can move around autonomously or be controlled from Earth by JAXA Tsukuba Space Centre. The images it takes are transferred in near real-time allowing JAXA to quickly evaluate problems and offer solutions to ISS residents. It has cut the amount of work done by Japanese astronauts on the ISS by about 10 per centphotographing work and equipment for evaluation that otherwise would have to be done manually. In the future it will be able to check supplies and help with onboard problems.
The Int-Ball also enables flight controllers and researchers on the ground to check the ISS team from the same viewpoint as the crew, which will help to maximize results of experiments. It has also cut the amount of work done by Japanese astronauts on the ISS by about 10 percent, photographing work and equipment for evaluation that otherwise would have to be done manually.
In the future, says JAXA, the Int-Ball will be able to check supplies and even help with onboard problems — though the details of how that will be accomplished by a limbless orb of cuteness are not yet known.
Credit : The verge
Picture Credit : Google