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JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote

Apparently the Japanese JAXA engineers have been working on this Star Wars-style remote for help around the station in space.

We supported the flight training of Int Ball No. 2. It is surprisingly difficult even for us humans to maintain our position in a gravity-free ship with circulating air, but he may be better than I am at staying perfectly still in the fixed position.

Fans of the original Star Wars movie may recall the wonderfully adroit seeker remote. In 1999, MIT engineering Professor David Miller showed Star Wars on the first day of class. During the scene where Luke Skywalker practices his light saber against a seeker remote, Miller stood up and said "I want you to build me some of those."

(Seeker remote from Star Wars)

"No one, not even the Jedi scientists, were able to truly define the force. Now, let's try again."

The old man was hefting a silvery globe about the size of a man's fist. It was covered with fine antennae, some as delicate as those of a moth. He flipped it toward Luke and watched as it halted a couple of meters away from the boy's face. Luke readied himself as the ball circled him slowly, turning to face it as it assumed a new position. Abruptly it executed a lightning swift lunge, only to freeze about a meter away. Luke failed to succumb to the feint, and the ball soon backed off.

Lots of related articles here - the students got busy!:

  - SPHERES - Mini Satellites Fly In Formation
  - Personal Satellite Assistant: Servant Of Astronauts And Jedi
  - Astronauts Test Star Wars Remote On Space Station
  - MKV-L Multiple Kill Vehicle Video
  - Nexus S Directs SPHERES On ISS
  - HoverBall Bids Farewell To Ballistic Motion
  - Yes, But Do Astrobees Have Lasers For Lightsaber Training?

See also this similar anime idea - Dr. Stone and REI version 37.

(Dr. Stone and REI37)

The next version of Rei we see, Version 37, is a much sleeker, more rounded robot which, instead of propellers, uses air blasts to move around in zero gravity. It has a spherical round main body with a couple of gyroscope "legs," which help balance the robot and also house its hands. A couple of round sensors are located on top, probably to serve for spatial recognition and sound input, while its eyes are comprised of two high quality circular cameras.

(From Dr-Stone Fandom)

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