Revolutionary AI Technology Monitors Astronaut Gloves for Real-Time Damage Detection
AI System Inspects Astronauts’ Gloves for Damage in Real-Time
Microsoft, in partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), is collaborating with NASA scientists to create an advanced AI system designed for the real-time inspection of astronauts’ gloves. In the harsh environment of space, where equipment failures can lead to dire consequences, gloves endure significant wear and tear from various activities, including equipment repairs and installations. Currently, astronauts send images of their gloves back to Earth for manual examinations by NASA analysts. However, this method, while functional for the International Space Station (ISS), poses challenges for future missions to the Moon and Mars—distances reaching 140 million miles away.
Tom Keane, Corporate Vice President of Mission Engineering at Microsoft, emphasized the need for an efficient solution as space exploration expands. Utilizing the capabilities of HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2, the collaboration aims to develop an AI system that quickly identifies even minor signs of wear on gloves, which could compromise astronaut safety. These gloves are engineered with five protective layers, including a rubber outer layer for grip and a cut-resistant Vectran® layer, providing essential protection against space’s extreme conditions.
Space presents unique challenges; micrometeorites create sharp edges on structures, and the lack of natural erosion at lunar and Martian locations makes rock particles hazardous. To create the glove analyzer, the project team initially compiled images of new, undamaged gloves alongside those showing signs of wear from both space and ground training. NASA engineers tagged different types of wear through Azure Cognitive Services’ Custom Vision, allowing the cloud-based AI to learn from this data and generate damage probability scores.
In practical application, images of gloves will be captured as astronauts remove their equipment in the airlock. These images will undergo local analysis on HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2 to detect damage, sending alerts to Earth if issues arise for further assessment by NASA engineers. “What we demonstrated is that we can perform AI and edge processing on the ISS and analyze gloves in real-time,” said Ryan Campbell, senior software engineer at Microsoft Azure Space, noting that processing occurs faster than image transmissions to Earth.
This project illustrates the synergy between AI and edge computing, particularly in environments with limited connectivity. Future advancements could potentially enable the detection of emerging damage in other critical areas, such as docking hatches before they become severe issues. Microsoft envisions using devices like HoloLens 2 to allow astronauts to visually inspect for damage as it occurs.
“Bringing cloud computing capabilities to the farthest reaches of space prepares us for longer human missions ahead,” concluded Jennifer Ott, Data and AI Specialist at Microsoft.
NVIDIA is positioning Germany to take the lead in Europe’s AI manufacturing sector. With a strategic focus on MedTech AI, as well as advancements in hardware and clinical applications, Germany is rapidly making its mark in the AI landscape.
As the industry grapples with the execution gap—where approximately 80% of AI projects fail to reach production—the need for effective strategies has become crucial. One area seeing a promising shift is education, with teachers in England now authorized to incorporate AI technologies into their classrooms.
NVIDIA helps Germany lead Europe’s AI manufacturing race
MedTech AI, hardware, and clinical application programmes
The AI execution gap: Why 80% of projects don’t reach production
Teachers in England given the green-light to use AI
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