It looks like something straight out of a Star Wars movie. And to hear it described — a self-propelled, floating, talking, computerized personal assistant with artificial intelligence — you might suspect it really is a “droid” from a science fiction film.
The similarity isn’t a coincidence. The design was actually inspired by the small floating sphere that Luke Skywalker sparred against in the originalStar Wars!
The idea may have its roots in science fiction, but this droid is quickly becoming a reality at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Soon these little robots, called “Personal Satellite Assistants” (or PSAs for short), may be flying on board the space shuttle and living in the International Space Station (ISS). They will help the crew save valuable time by assisting with routine chores. And they could be lifesavers when emergencies arise.
Like the fictional tricorder, the PSA will have sensors that can detect the pressure and temperature of the ambient air, as well as concentrations of gases such as CO2. For astronauts living in a sealed aluminum can in the vacuum of space, this kind of information can be a matter of life and death.
For more details visit : http://www.nasa.gov/