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NASA's Personal Satellite Assistants

Posted by michael on from the battlebots dept.

colonist writes "Wired News reports on the Personal Satellite Assistant (PSA), a spherical robot about the size of a softball that uses air jets to move in the microgravity environment of space vehicles and habitats. Described as a cross between Star Trek's tricorder and Star Wars' lightsaber training droid, the PSA has 'sensors for measuring gases, temperature, and air pressure' and performs 'video conferencing and can communicate with electronic support devices such as computer servers, avionics systems, and wireless LAN bridges'." We mentioned these a few years ago - looks like they've come a long way since then.

3 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away by macklin01 · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Darth Vader already had such an assistant. (Episode IV)

    "And now, your highness, we will discuss the location of your hidden rebel base..."

    --
    OpenSource.MathCancer.org: open source comp bio
  2. Friggin Lasers by A+Boy+and+His+Blob · · Score: 0, Redundant
    The PSA could help mission controllers on the ground, as well. The robot's onboard camera would allow it to handle teleconferences. A laser pointer could let ground people show astronauts exactly which button they want pushed.
    Now if it just had a friggin laser, oh wait, nevermind.
  3. HARO! by Microlith · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Haro! Haro!

    So NASA is proposing we have Haro bouncing around our space craft.

    What's next, Mobile Suits?

    If so, sign me up! :)