NASA is busily working on a repair system for satellites that can send robots out to do jobs too hazardous for humans. But the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) will need a good set of eyes to help control the repair. That's where the Visual Inspection Poseable Invertebrate Robot (VIPIR) here comes in. VIPIR will be a new addition to RRM, which is currently undergoing testing at the ISS. Its imaging system includes a 1.2 mm diameter boroscope camera, one of the smallest cameras on the market. It's usually used for endoscopies and colonoscopies, as the ultra-thin camera can image your insides while still fitting through a ...small opening. With those capabilities, VIPIR has a 100 degree field of view and 0.05 megapixel resolution. While that may not seem like much, but it's actually perfect for satellite repairs, when the camera is squeezing in narrow gaps to diagnose a problem without ripping a sat apart. 

Product:

• Country: USA 
• Company: NASA