Astrobee (robot)



Astrobee is a robotic system developed by the US space agency NASA to assist astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astrobee consists of three 12.5-inch cube-shaped robots named Honey, Queen, and Bumble, along with software and a docking station for recharging. Astrobee was created to enhance the efficiency of routine tasks on the ISS, allowing astronauts to focus on unique human activities.

Overview
Astrobee operates autonomously or under remote control by astronauts, flight controllers, or ground researchers. The robots are equipped with cameras and sensors to navigate the microgravity environment and perform tasks such as inventory management, experiment documentation, and cargo movement. Electric fans are used for propulsion, enabling free flight within the space station.

Astrobee builds upon the SPHERES robots' legacy (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite) on the ISS, to become the station's primary robotic test facility.

Each robot is a 12.5-inch cube with a perching arm that allows it to grasp handrails for energy conservation, manipulate items, and assist astronauts.

History
The docking station launched on November 17, 2018, aboard Northrop Grumman's CRS-10 mission and was installed on February 15, 2019, in the Japanese Experiment Module.

Free-flying robots Bumble and Honey launched on April 17, 2019, via Northrop Grumman's CRS-11 mission. The third robot, Queen, and perching arms were launched on July 25, 2019, aboard SpaceX's CRS-18 mission.

Additional information
Astrobee is a part of NASA's initiative to advance research on the ISS. A pair of Astrobee robots, named Honey and Bumble, is set to launch to the ISS aboard a Cygnus cargo flight. Once on the ISS, these autonomous robots will be deployed in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) to perform various tasks autonomously, including experiments and video recording, even operating without direct human supervision.

The propulsion system of each Astrobee robot, as described in the source, relies on a pair of impellers that pressurize air inside the robot. This pressurized air can then be vented through 12 different nozzles, allowing the robot to rotate or translate in any direction without the need for external moving parts or pressurized gas canisters. Astrobee is equipped with multiple cameras, a touch screen, a laser pointer, lights, and a 'Terminate Button' that, when pressed, quickly shuts down the propulsion and payload systems while keeping the main processors operational for communication with ground control.

The onboard sensing and computing capabilities enable Astrobee to operate autonomously, and its flight software, based on ROS, is upgradable on-orbit. The robot can carry various modular payloads and will feature a manipulative arm for grabbing handrails to capture video footage of astronauts without using its motors.

Future contributions
Astrobee's modular design allows guest scientists to conduct diverse experiments to help develop technology for future space missions. The system is expected to play a crucial role in NASA's lunar exploration plans and other deep space missions, potentially serving as caretakers for spacecraft during crew absences.