The Int-Ball2, a little blue-eyed floating robot that monitors the International Space Station, is winning many hearts online.
Its name comes from the term Internal Ball Camera-2, and it was developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as a silent space assistant to help astronauts document and follow their daily tasks.
It is equipped with a camera for taking high-quality photos and videos, allowing scientists to focus on their technical activities while operators on Earth remotely control the robot to make the necessary recordings.
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The Int-Ball2 features advanced visual mapping systems, preventing it from bumping into obstacles along the way. In addition, it can return automatically to its charging unit when the battery is about to run out.
According to NASA, using the Japanese robot is highly valuable because “crew time is one of the most precious resources on the International Space Station, and many simple and repetitive tasks could be automated. This frees up time for more important activities.”
Photo and video: YouTube @JAXA-HQ. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
