Three Robot Cubes Learned to Fly Around the Space Station

1. Developing Astrobee

Engineers at NASA Ames Research Center designed the Astrobee system to assist astronauts with routine chores. The robotic platform was created to take inventory, document experiments, and transport cargo autonomously. Developers built the system using modular components to allow future hardware and software upgrades. The project received funding from the Game Changing Development program and Advanced Exploration Systems.

Three cube-shaped robots and a docking station constituted the core system architecture.

2. Launching the Fleet

The first two free-flying robots, named Bumble and Honey, launched aboard a commercial resupply mission in April 2019. Northrop Grumman delivered the hardware to the International Space Station from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. A third robot named Queen, along with specialized perching arms, arrived later that year on a SpaceX resupply flight. Ground controllers coordinated the delivery schedules with station flight planners.

All three robotic units arrived successfully at the orbital laboratory.

3. Unpacking Bumble

NASA astronaut Anne McClain unpacked the first Astrobee robot inside the Kibo module of the space station. She worked alongside the ground engineering team at Ames Research Center to initiate the activation sequence. Technicians performed initial functional checks to verify that all internal subsystems were operating correctly. The procedure marked the formal introduction of the free-flyers to the orbital environment.

The robot successfully completed its initial system diagnostics in microgravity.

4. Propulsion and Navigation

The cube-shaped robots utilized electric fans as a propulsion system to maneuver through the station modules. Internal cameras and navigation sensors allowed the machines to map and perceive their surroundings. The platform could operate autonomously or respond to remote commands issued by flight controllers. Docking stations provided automated battery recharging capabilities between flight assignments.

The propulsion and sensor suites enabled smooth navigation through the cabin.

5. Autonomous Operations

Researchers tested the capabilities of the system by assigning independent navigation challenges to the robots. Bumble and Honey demonstrated the ability to detect simulated anomalies during station operations. The systems connected autonomously with station subsystems to verify data transmission protocols. Those tests confirmed the readiness of the platform for more complex operational tasks.

The robots exhibited reliable autonomous behavior during the trial sequences.

6. Adhesive Technology

Engineers tested advanced gecko-inspired adhesive materials to evaluate surface-gripping mechanisms. The specialized pads allowed the robots to attach and detach from various station surfaces without exerting physical force. This capability reduced the energy required to maintain stationary positions during monitoring tasks. The successful trials expanded the potential applications for future maintenance operations.

Researchers gathered performance data on the adhesive perching technology.

7. Mapping Demonstrations

The Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking project utilized the Astrobees for spatial mapping tasks. Bumble flew out of its home module to generate independent three-dimensional maps of unmapped station interiors. This capability is essential for future spacecraft that operate without permanent human crews. The mapping trials validated autonomous pathfinding algorithms in complex environments.

The robot successfully recorded structural layouts without human piloting assistance.

8. Independent Work

Two Astrobee robots, Queen and Bumble, were tested operating independently in separate station modules simultaneously. The crew observed the dual-robot operations while focusing on other scientific experiments. The experiment used the fleet management software to coordinate the machines. Ground controllers monitored telemetry streams from both machines without encountering interference.

The multi-robot operation proceeded smoothly across the designated laboratory zones.

9. Educational Outreach

Beyond supporting current station activities, the Astrobee platform served as a research testbed for guest scientists. Academic institutions and student programmers utilized the system to trial new software applications. NASA emphasized the importance of inspiring the next generation of engineers through space robotics initiatives. Educational programs integrated station datasets into university curriculum designs.

Several guest science experiments were successfully uploaded and executed.

10. Future Exploration

NASA’s three Astrobee units were tested and operated aboard the International Space Station after their 2019 deliveries. They used fans for movement inside the station and could return to a docking facility to recharge. Later experiments used the robots for research tasks, with ground controllers and astronauts involved as required. Those operations were documented station experiments, separate from proposals for future uncrewed outposts.

The three units became an in-orbit research platform.

Sources

• NASA: Astrobee project
• NASA: Three years of Astrobee on the station