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Building a Droid for the International Space Station
Inspired by science fiction classics, NASA scientists
are building a talking, thinking and flying robot
to help astronauts with their chores in space.

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July 23, 2001
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 original Star 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.

It may look like something out of science fiction,
but this softball-sized robot helper
could soon be aiding real-life astronauts with their daily tasks.
Pictured is Yuri Gawdiak, principal investigator for the project
at the NASA Ames Research Center.

"I looked a little bit at the lightsabre training remote in Star Wars. That was part of the inspiration for [the PSA]," says Yuri Gawdiak, who originated the PSA concept and is now the project's principal investigator.

Another science fiction classic -- Star Trek -- gave some of the astronauts an idea for a tool that would be useful on missions.

"The astronauts requested a 'tricorder'-like capability," Gawdiak says, referring to the portable device that landing parties on Star Trek would use to survey the atmospheres of alien planets.

"We took it a step further and said we can give you a 'tricorder' and a personal digital assistant ... and make it autonomous," Gawdiak says.
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Cheers,
Dan