According to Japanese media reports, Japan plans to train the next generation of aerospace engineers by holding a competition on the International Space Station (ISS) to test robots controlled by artificial intelligence. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to hold the competition as early as 2027 on the Japanese "Kibo" experimental module of the ISS. The competition will first hold preliminary rounds in a virtual environment simulating the ISS, where participating teams' AI models will be tested. The best-performing teams will advance to the finals, which will be held on the ISS. Participants will need to develop a physical AI model to control Int-Ball2, a spherical robotic drone deployed on the "Kibo" module. Int-Ball2 can move in the microgravity environment of the ISS and perform tasks such as taking photos and videos in place of astronauts.
