NASA's free-floating robo-assistant Bumble passes first tests in space ahead of housekeeping mission

A recent hardware test of NASA's robotic assistant, 'Astrobees,' takes a new wave of space-bound autonomous helpers one step closer to reality. According to NASA, this month astronaut Anne McClain ran a hardware test of the robot, named'Bumble,' one of three robotic assistants launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 15. Scientists hope Bumble will carry out an array of housekeeping tasks like monitoring equipment and keeping inventory of supplies that NASA hopes will free up its astronauts to perform other more critical tasks relating to with their missions and experiments. Astrobees are just one of many robotic applications from NASA who is also studying the use of'soft' robotics that replace traditional hardware with malleable plastics'Astrobee will prove out robotic capabilities that will enable and enhance human exploration,' said Maria Bualat, Astrobee project manager at NASA's Ames Research Center in a statement. 'Performing such experiments in zero gravity will ultimately help develop new hardware and software for future space missions.'