The idea of including a voice command system came about in the image and likeness of the science fiction series Star Trek in which the crew of the Enterprise requested information about the ship’s status from the ship’s computer.
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“THE series computer Star Trek was part of our original inspiration for Alexa, so it’s exciting and humbling to see our vision of environmental intelligence come to life aboard Orion,” says Aaron Rubenson, vice president of Alexa Everywhere at Amazon.
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“We are proud to work with Lockheed Martin to push the boundaries of voice and AI technology, and we hope that Alexa’s role in the mission will help inspire future scientists, astronauts and engineers who will define the next era of space exploration.”
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Now the new system, widely used in some homes, will be part of the next test flight of the Orion capsule, included in the mission. Artemis to NASA.
The technology was accepted by Lockheed Martin and made it known this Friday that it is working together with Amazon and Cisco on a project that goes by the name of Callisto. A project that will be launched in the mission Artemis 1, not before March.
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Calisto is a demo for now, to see how Alexa technology from Amazon and teleconferencing platform Webex from Cisco can be used in future manned missions.
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Credits: NASA / DR
Callisto Project – Alexa
Just like at home, in the car or on a cell phone, accessing information using Alexa voice recognition, the Calisto project could allow astronauts to use voice commands to access data, adjust space capsule controls and interact with mission control. in the land.
Rob Chambers, director of commercial civil space strategy at Lockheed Martin, in the presentation of the project, states that “encompassing this type of technology can help astronauts with some unique human interface technologies, making work simpler, safer and more efficient”.
Just as at home, the Alexa system is asked to play music, tell a joke, turn on a light or even turn on the air conditioning, such an application in a spacecraft would be extremely useful for astronauts. Not to be asked to tell an anecdote, but they will also be asked to do so.
In fact, this system would allow Callisto-Alexa to be asked to access and analyze the spacecraft’s telemetry. “One way to do this with the Calisto payload is to say, ‘Alexa, what’s the average temperature of all the batteries and what’s the peak temperature?’ Questions that the system will automatically execute and provide immediately to astronauts, preventing them from using pressure gauges or a computer monitor to gather information.
The Calisto system, just like at home, will also be able to control the lighting and displays inside the ship, or initiate diagnostic tests of the space capsule systems.
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Like Webex – virtual conferencing software that allows its users to collaborate in a online – the system can exchange data and support collaborations, such as a “blank slate” in a normal classroom or meeting, with teams on the ground. “These tools would be invaluable if I were on board as an engineer trying to understand whether something might be working or not,” explains Rob Chambers.
The system uses a version of the same Alexa technology available to consumers. Aaron Rubenson, vice president of Amazon Alexa explains that engineers at Amazon have done an amazing job with the teams at Lockheed Martin and Cisco to ensure that Alexa can perform at an exemplary level in this very challenging environment,” eiThis includes limited internet access available in the Orion pod and the different acoustics inside the pod.
Rubenson further said that the Calisto project is programmed to answer thousands of questions or “utterances” that it can process locally and automatically. If the Calisto system is unable to respond to the request, the program is prepared to look for solutions online or need superior help and convey the questions presented to the ground control mission.
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Flight plan from NASA’s Artemis program that will take man back to the moon. Credits: NASA
“Space Alexa”
Putting the AI system inside a space program might seem easier than it actually is.
There are multiple factors that, in an environment where behaviors are required, both from the instruments and from the astronauts, they have to border on perfection. However, a new computer system that responds to orders will also have to be error-free.
But in addition to the human and technical factors, it is necessary to take into account where this type of system will operate. And space, despite being empty and devoid of dangers to the naked eye, they exist and can even compromise electronic systems.
With these adversities in mind, Lockheed Martin designed this custom space-grade hardware with Alexa built in, ensuring the device can withstand the intense shock and vibrations of launch, but also radiation exposure when passing through the solar radiation belt – Van Allen .
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As for the access system Amazon provided the software of acoustic and audio processing to support voice interactions at a distance, just like you do at home with receivers and transmitters connected to the network, through Alexa. It also included tuning algorithms to account for engine noise and reverberation associated with multiple metallic surfaces within the flight deck.
The Callisto system is also equipped with Amazon’s local voice control technology, which allows Alexa to work in areas with limited or no connectivity.
And one of the innovations in this Artificial Intelligence system combined with the internal processing onboard the Orion space capsule, the program will be able to bypass the delay (or latency) associated with sending information from the Moon to Earth and vice versa, and allow future astronauts access specific information and resources almost instantly.
Alexa has made life easier for customers on Earth…excited to explore what voice & AI can do for astronauts in space. Great partnership with @LockheedMartin & @Cisco for @NASA’s upcoming #Artemis mission! https://t.co/tUfXSJngcH
— Andy Jassy (@ajassy) January 5, 2022
No Artemis I, the AI Alexa program will be able to access real-time telemetry data and answer thousands of mission-specific questions aboard Orion, including questions like “Alexa, what is the current speed of the Orion?” or “Alexa, what is the temperature in the cabin?”
The engineers who have the Alexa system in their hands, have not finished their work in delivering this system to the Lockheed Martin. This experience will also serve to collect new data and learn over time from all the actions that Alexa has taken in space, in order to make future system features even better for customers, both in space and on Earth, including those operating in hostile or remote environments without connectivity.
And it will be through Deep Space Network to NASA , which Alexa will be able to retrieve and use Earth information for astronauts in space. Information that can range from simple news of what is happening in the world, but also more private contacts where astronauts can call home during long missions.
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Together, these voice interactions can help make life simpler and more efficient for those who increasingly live aboard space stations or long-haul space missions, especially when they are cut off from personal contact or preoccupied with other tasks during the mission.
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ESA / DR credits
“Alexa, take me to the moon.”
Within this innovative initiative the Amazon advances to be already creating a new program Amazon Future Engineer called Alexa for Astronauts .
The initiative will offer live virtual trips from the Johnson Space Center and will provide students and future astronauts with a first-hand look at the virtual experience of the crew and other facilities around mission control.
THE Alexa for Astronauts will include the curriculum STEM developed by MIT App Inventor and developed with partners from National Science Teaching Association e Mobile CSP, enabling educators to delve deeper into computer science learning in the Artemis I mission in classrooms.
These new Alexa experiences can be read on the Amazon “will be launched closer to the mission Artemis I. But for the curious, it’s already available for Alexa-enabled devices. And to get started and set up reminders for upcoming mission milestones – just say, “Alexa, take me to the moon”.
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