ERASMUS RECORDING BINOCULAR (ERB)
Research Area: Imaging Technology
Expedition(s): 14
Principal Investigator(s): ● Massimo Sabbatini, European Space Research and Technology
Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Erasmus Recording Binocular (ERB) is a three-dimensional (3-D) video camera that is used to
take images of the environment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The images are
used to create an accurate map of the interior of the ISS.
RESULTS
All images were received by mid-January
2007 in the Erasmus Centre and were
made available at various venues all over
Europe. The use of ERB resulted in the
several conclusions.It was indeed possible to build a
demonstrator with relatively reduced
resources and prove the validity of the
design for space. The ergonometry used
proved successful, and astronauts
appreciated the ERB unique feature of
having onboard stereo viewing
capabilities. Radiation was of a transitory
nature even though many Single Event
Upset (SEU)s where visible. The SEU’s
were cleared and reset after a reboot of
the system.The potential for outreach achieved by 3-D images was very high, and all audiences from
children to professionals have enjoyed them and found them very engaging. It was proven that
the sense of presence in an environment not easily reachable is guaranteed even with low-
resolution cameras. Astronauts found images useful in assessing the constraints that an
environment like the ISS poses to space payload designers and to the people that work in such
conditions.
This ambitious goal has not been achieved yet. The images of the whole ISS have been useful to
visually map the ISS, but an accurate 3-D model reconstruction is ambitious and began in 2009,
in preparation of the high-resolution images coming from the successor of ERB.
The positive feedback received from the astronaut and from the all people who saw the stereo
images encouraged the team to develop a new-generation ERB: the ERB2.
Erasmus Recording Binocular (ERB) 3 - D video camera for
use in the ERB experiment during Astrolab. The camera will
be used to accurately map the interior of the International
Space Station in its current configuration. These images will
be used to improve the models available on the ground. ESA
image.