Bosch SoundSee Module Heads To The ISS To Gauge System Health

Bosch has announced that it has a new sensor that is set to lift off to the ISS called SoundSee. The SoundSee modules is about the size of a lunchbox and has microphones intended to analyze sounds aboard the ISS to gauge system health. The microphones work in conjunction with a machine learning algorithm to analyze the audio data that it hears.

The SoundSee sensor will head to the ISS no earlier than November 2. Bosch worked with Astrobiotic Technology to develop SoundSee as part of a research collaboration with NASA to send experimental sensor tech to the ISS. Astrobiotic tested and prepared SoundSee for launch.

The sensor will head to the ISS aboard the Northrop Grumman CRS-12 resupply mission. Once aboard the ISS, the SoundSee sensors will get a permanent ride around the station aboard one of the Astrobee autonomous robots. The mobility that Astrobee has around the space station will allow SoundSee to accomplish its core mission. The core mission is to perform research investigation using AI-driven analytics on audio data from ISS systems and equipment.

The goal of SoundSee is to deliver fully autonomous sensing capability to gauge system performance and predict maintenance needs aboard the spacecraft. The sensor will capture ambient noise using its microphones and use AI to extract the operational characteristics of machines and components on the station. It will then use the audio data to spot potential anomalies.

SoundSee will also free the astronauts aboard the space station from a tedious task. Periodically the crew has to perform sound level measurement tasks at various points around the station that can take up to two hours. SoundSee aims to automate that task. The sensor will also monitor the health of critical systems like life support.