Space Droids Battle To Save Our Planet

January 21, 2014

Image Caption: The 2013 Spheres competition trophy backdropped by replicas of the Spheres. The ultimate robot game challenges youngsters to write algorithms to control Spheres, short for Synchronised Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites. Spheres are volleyball-sized satellites that hover around the International Space Station using 12 jets powered by compressed gas. These autonomous robots have their own power, propulsion and navigation. Credit: ESA

[ Watch The Video: Zero Robotics Competition 2013 ]

ESA

A comet heading towards Earth threatens humanitys existence that was the virtual scenario of this years Zero Robotics tournament. Secondary-school students from across Europe controlled miniature satellites on the International Space Station in a competition to save our planet.

The Space Station was turned into a playing field for the finals. The ultimate robot game challenged youngsters to write algorithms that controlled the Spheres, short for Synchronised Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites.

The Spheres are volleyball-sized satellites that hover around the Station using 12 jets powered by compressed gas. These autonomous robots have their own power, propulsion and navigation.

Last Friday was the fourth time European contenders ran their commands in space, and each year the competition has grown. Over 140 European students joined the US competitors, writing code to redirect an incoming comet while taking space debris and limited laser resources into account.

European finalists met at the ESA Technical Centre in the Netherlands to follow the competition live from space. The US teams were connected at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

On the Station, NASA astronaut Richard Mastracchio and cosmonaut Oleg Kotov monitored the robotic battle. ESA astronaut Andr Kuipers, who monitored in 2012 from space, said These finals are a great combination of gaming, science and technology. Robotics have a promising future to help us in orbit.

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Space Droids Battle To Save Our Planet