Wait they finally came out with the drone? I remember this was being teased when the ISS first launched. This is awesome! NASA / JAXA should make a plush toy or regular drone that could be used on the ground for fundraising.
Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
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Re: Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
The use of fans is disappointing; that means it can't go outside. My first thought when seeing it is that it'd be great for doing external inspections, and could even have its own private little airlock to get in and out. Maybe they could make a version with ionic thrusters, that stays outside all of the time. It could have a 'nest' where it parks and refuels when not in use.
I'm sure there are very strict rules about having anything flammable or explosive on board ISS, which pretty much means you can't have a drone that can move under its on propulsion both inside and outside the station.
NASA's Manned Maneuvering Units used compressed nitrogen. But I'm not sure there'd be a huge benefit to having indoor/outdoor capabilities in a single drone. You'd have to cycle the airlock every time it went in or out, and it would be bulkier and less efficient in either mode than a dedicated unit.
Re: Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
#83Earlier quoted context omitted.
Being able to operate with no atmosphere (e.g. outside of the ISS) would be an advantage I suppose.
Yet, the translation movements are done using fans. Perhaps it's a prototype and future version will operate outside.
Yup, I misread. I was thinking you meant what would be the benefit of not using fans at all.
Re: Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
You could just set rails or clotheslines outside the station for an external drone camera to travel along.
Or maybe not whole rails, but just fixtures the drone could grab onto. You could supply the drone with power and control signals through the fixtures, and the drone could kinda travel everywhere by just grabbing onto a nearby fixture, then releasing the previous one. Wouldn't that be great? /s
Canadarm2, the robotic arm on the International Space Station, does this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Servicing_System#Canada...
Re: Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm sure there are very strict rules about having anything flammable or explosive on board ISS, which pretty much means you can't have a drone that can move under its on propulsion both inside and outside the station.
Just power it with compressed air.
Expending air is not sustainable.
Maybe make it magnetic and roll it on the exterior hull.
Re: Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
#86Re: Japan's zero-gravity space drone sends first pictures from ISS
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or maybe not whole rails, but just fixtures the drone could grab onto. You could supply the drone with power and control signals through the fixtures, and the drone could kinda travel everywhere by just grabbing onto a nearby fixture, then releasing the previous one. Wouldn't that be great? /s
Canadarm2, the robotic arm on the International Space Station, does this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Servicing_System#Canada...
Let's add more Canadarms, and have them throw and catch the drone around.