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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.

5 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. O boy... by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 0, Troll

    I smell a Beowulf cluster comment coming on..

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
    1. Re:O boy... by Wizworm · · Score: 0, Troll

      Not Beowulf but how about. I for one will welcome our Personal Satelite Overloards

      --
      I always thought of Creationism as the Raving Right's version of the Loony Left's Anthropogenic Global Warming-brightmal
  2. Re:The poor guy on the front page by Peale · · Score: 0, Troll

    Man, you mods are harsh! And obviously didn't read the article.

  3. Is this thing vaporware? by Animats · · Score: 0, Troll

    NASA's web site has pictures of non-functioning prototypes, a mockup, and computer graphics. Usually, anything NASA is hyping is accompanied by high-resolution color pictures. Is this thing for real?

  4. I want one of these here on Earth by thomasa · · Score: 0, Troll

    But I want it^h^hher to look like Missy Elliot.