Int-Ball

The Int-Ball, also known as the JEM Internal Ball Camera, is an experimental, autonomous, self-propelled, and maneuverable ball camera that is deployed in the Japanese Kibō module of the International Space Station. It was delivered aboard SpaceX CRS-11 on June 4, 2017.[1] The Int-Ball is intended to perform some of the photo-video documentation workload aboard the ISS. The Int-Ball was designed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and is controlled and monitored by a team of JAXA ground controllers.[2][3]

Peggy Whitson interacting with the JEM Internal Ball Camera.

The Int-Ball naturally floats in the station's zero-gravity environment, allowing it to maneuver freely within the ISS. It weighs 1 kg (2.2 lb), is 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter, and is propelled by an array of 12 small electric fans mounted on the ball's outer surface. The unit shares many similarities with Earth-based drone motion control and drone camera systems. The Int-Ball's motion control system is capable of executing a rotation on any axis, and is also capable of overall movement in any general direction. The internal structural elements and outer body of the Int-Ball system were produced using 3D printing. The simulated "eyes" modeled on the exterior of the ball represent the direction of the "gaze" of the Int-Ball, which is in fact a single camera lens situated in the approximate center of the two "eyes".[1]

The Int-Ball system was designed with the hope of reducing or eliminating the amount of time spent by astronauts aboard the ISS in photo-video documentation activities, which have been estimated to consume approximately 10% of the astronauts' work time.[1] The robotic photo-video documentation duties that the Int-Ball performs have been likened by some to the types of responsibilities that the fictional R2-D2 of the Star Wars movie series appeared to undertake.[4]

See also
  • CIMON, floating robot deployed on the ISS by Airbus
  • Kirobo, interactive humanoid robot deployed on the ISS by JAXA
  • Robonaut2, semi-humanoid robot deployed on the ISS by NASA

References
  1. "First disclosure of images taken by the JEM Kibo's internal drone "Int-Ball"". JAXA. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  2. "JAXA tests grapefruit-sized video drone aboard ISS". The Japan Times. Jiji Press. July 15, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  3. John, Tara (July 17, 2017). "An Adorable Floating Robot Is Helping Astronauts on the ISS". Time. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  4. Martins, Carlos (July 7, 2017). "ISS já tem um robot voador a bordo" [ISS already has a flying robot on board]. Aberto até de Madrugada (in Portuguese). Retrieved July 19, 2017.

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