There is no denying that scientists and engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA are one of the best people in their field. However like everyone, these industry insiders sometimes need a little help from people outside the agency.
In 2014, NASA has outsourced the development of a device that would better locate destructive rocks set to impact the planet. Last year, the government agency asked the help of the general public in constructing a possible human habitat in mars. Ultimately SEArch consortium and Clouds AI received the $25000 prize for their winning idea, the Mars Ice House. Interestingly just two weeks ago, NASA has yet again asked assistance for a project from the curious public.
In partnership with Freelancer.com, the agency has posted a contest on the crowdsourcing website last January 14, 2016. NASA is seeking assistance for "Astrobee," a flying robot that helps astronauts accomplish routine tasks aboard the International Space Station. Currently astronauts aboard the ISS use Spheres robot which has been utilized 2006. The "Astrobee" robot is intended to be hauled to the station by 2017 when the Sphere is due to be retired. NASA needs help in perfecting the robotic arm for "Astrobee" that would be used to handle small objects.
"We are asking for your help in exploring the multiple ways to approach creating a decomposed architecture of a complex system. Help us by providing system architecture options for a robotic attachment mechanism (robotic arm) attached to a free flying robot that will fly aboard the International Space Station (ISS)" read NASA's post on Freelancer.com.
A $10 payment would be awarded to each of the thirty individuals whose ideas are selected from the registration survey. Subsequently, a $100 fee would be paid to individuals selected from the registration who managed to provide all the deliverables in the task.