SPHERES Robot Cubes Fly On Space Station
SPHERES robotic satellites fly in formation on space station
MIT has a set of robots called SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites) on board the International Space Station to test out algorithms for autonomous navigation and docking maneuvers. Each sphere is about 8" in diameter and has 18 sides.
SPHERES team members test two SPHERES in the KC-135 aircraft, also known as the Vomit Comet, which simulates micro-gravity by diving steeply
Each mini-satellite is powered by 16 AA batteries, and uses compressed carbon dioxide for propulsion, shooting out tiny puffs to propel it along at a few centimetres per second. The SPHERES will fly within the station's US Destiny laboratory and Unity node.
The space station is already equipped with two beacons that will help the satellite determine where it is. The SPHERES pings ultrasound waves to the beacons, which bounce sound back to the mini-satellite, allowing it to use the response times to calculate its position accurately.
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