SpacePet
Psychological support in zero-g.
Project proposal. Summer 2007 to present. Caleb J. Clark, NYU Tisch, ITP 2008. Email: calebjc at well dot com
Status: Beta in process.
SpacePet is the first artificial pet for zero-g environments. SpacePet is designed to support the psychological and physical health of people in long-duration space flight, such as the International Space Station and future trips to Mars. SpacePet is sustainable because it is charged, or "fed," by astronauts via physical exercise that generates electricity. Real pets are not an option for Zero-G environments for the foreseeable future, yet research has shown that pets, and to some extent artificial pets, have a postive effect on humans, especially in solitary or stressful situations. SpacePet if the first step towards a future where artifially intelligent pets provideo human space explorers with not only emotional comfort and entertainment, but act as sophisticated sensors, sentries, and exersise companions, much in the same way dogs protect us, and cats often work as mousers, while they are also are our companions.
The SpacePet is not designed to mimic a cat or dog. It is an alien pet with alien expression and behavior adapted to zero-g and space environments. Early prototypes will use a green rubber "Koosh ball" about 8" in diameter that can spin via simple air propulsion and make entertaining, albeit, alien sounds when they are hungry, tired, happy, or being touched our hugged.
Later models could have advanced propulsion and interaction and be able to not only comfort and entertain astronauts, but also observe, sense radiation and gravity, test air quality, and need physical activity to be 'fed'.
The SpacePet is inspired by:
- Tribbles from the television series Star Trek.
- The Mini-AERCam (Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic Camera) NASA program
- Research on cat and dogs in high stress and/or isolating environments
- Toy Puffer and Koosh balls seemingly magic power to get people to play with them
- Artificial pets like the Tamogchi