Mapping the ISS with the Autonomous Free-Flying Astrobee Robots

Space intra-vehicular robots (IVR) can provide coverage survey and targeted close-up inspection imagery capabilities that improve ground operator situation awareness. We report on a series of activities using the autonomous Astrobee robotic free-flyers that mapped the interior of three ISS modules, generating a panoramic tour of the ISS interior without astronaut manual photography. For the ISS, these capabilities can complement or replace time-consuming crew inspection tasks, providing panoramic data products that are easier to navigate than the baseline crew safety videos. For future exploration vehicles with extended uncrewed mission phases, robotic inspection will play a more critical role of providing the primary “eyes in the sky” for vehicle operators.