Science Fiction Inspires New Generation Space Droid

NASA has unveiled a new robotic droid about the size of a softball that will help scientists and astronauts in space within the next five years. The Personal Satellite Assistants is a support device that will move and operate independently in a microgravity environment on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station and future exploration missions. The PSA will be able to do routine chores to assist the crew and be available to help during lifesaving emergencies.

"I looked a little bit at the lightsabre training remote in Star Wars. That was part of the inspiration for [the PSA] ," says Yuri Gawdiak, who originated the PSA concept and is now the project's principal investigator. "The astronauts also requested a 'tricorder'-like capability. We took it a step further and said we can give you a 'tricorder'; and a personal digital assistant and make it autonomous."

As the NASA developers work to finish the PSA, its main responsibilities will be spread over four areas.

Environmental Monitoring: The PSA will continually check the gas levels making sure that oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other gas are at appropriate levels.

"It's kind of like having a canary on your shoulder," says former PSA systems designer John Loch. Miners used to keep a caged canary down in mine shafts to act as an early-warning device for subterranean methane that sometimes asphyxiated miners. "If the canary starts getting dizzy, you'd better start heading for your spacesuit."

Communications: The unit includes a microphone, speakers, camera and flat display panel that allow it to function as a remote data display terminal for system and experimental data.

Remote Operations Support: Ground controllers are able to maneuver and communicate with the PSA to view what is going on or to monitor experiments in the cargo bay.

Crew Worksite Support: The PSA provides working astronauts access to information on vehicle status and health data, mission schedule, inventory tracking, location information, and just-in-time-training support.

"If a crew member is taking something apart, the PSA could be floating over their shoulder and helping by telling them, 'Okay, remove this cover, take this latch off, move this wire over here, and so on," says Loch. "A floating, talking clipboard would be a good way to describe it."

The PSA will have advanced voice-recognition and intent-interpretation technologies that will allow it to understand spoken questions and commands.

The developers at NASA's Ames Research Center said they are using off-the-shelf parts to keep costs down. The unit's computer is a Pentium III running Linus, and the six ducted fans it uses for propulsion are commercial products made for model airplanes. The infrared distance sensors it uses to avoid collisions are pre-made sensors similar to those in auto-flush toilets. Also, future PSA systems might be equipped with evolving technologies including holograph projections and intelligent technologies.

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