ABEJA Supports Implementation of Physical AI in Space, Commissioned by JAXA

ABEJA Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yusuke Okada; hereinafter "ABEJA"), which aims to "implement a rich world through human-AI collaboration," has developed a speech recognition system for the autonomous flying camera robot "Internal Ball Camera 2" (hereinafter "Int-Ball2") commissioned by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA; Headquarters: Chofu, Tokyo; President: Hiroshi Yamakawa) in May 2025.

Reference: ABEJA Develops Onboard Speech Recognition System for Spacecraft, Commissioned by JAXA | ABEJA Inc.

JAXA has now conducted an on-orbit demonstration of Int-Ball2 equipped with this system inside the "Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station (ISS). In the real environment of a spacecraft in outer space, the speech recognition system onboard Int-Ball2 successfully recognized movement commands issued by astronauts and accurately executed the corresponding operations.

Int-Ball2 is an in-cabin drone designed to assist astronauts with filming tasks. In addition to its function as a camera robot, it also serves as a platform capable of running various programs within the "Kibo" module.

The speech recognition system installed on Int-Ball2 is a high-precision, lightweight system developed by ABEJA. In May 2025, operational verification was conducted under a simulated spacecraft environment characterized by confined spaces and high noise levels. This on-orbit demonstration follows a previous test and confirms that astronauts can operate the device hands-free on an edge device within the spacecraft, even under conditions of communication disruption or latency.

To enable operation under constrained hardware resources, ABEJA further optimized the software for reduced size based on the previously developed system. Additionally, fine-tuning was performed using simulated noise generated from real-world audio data to enhance performance under actual conditions.

During the on-orbit demonstration, astronauts aboard the "Kibo" module activated the system installed on Int-Ball2 and issued specific movement commands verbally. Int-Ball2 successfully executed commands to move and rotate in up, down, left, and right directions, confirming the effectiveness of hands-free operation within the spacecraft.

This system, which enables AI to instantly analyze astronaut voice input and translate it into autonomous physical actions by hardware such as Int-Ball2, represents a cutting-edge initiative in automating human operations through Physical AI. ABEJA recognizes this project—conducted in the extreme real-world environment of space—as a critical use case for the research and development of Physical AI.

ABEJA will continue to support the application of AI in mission-critical operations through the ABEJA Platform, driving transformation in industrial structures.

Appearance of Int-Ball2 (Photo: Provided by JAXA) Appearance of Int-Ball2 (Photo: Provided by JAXA)

Visualization of Int-Ball2 operation (Photo: Provided by JAXA)

About ABEJA Inc.

ABEJA operates under the mission of "implementing a rich world," and conducts its enterprise platform business centered on the ABEJA Platform, enabling practical implementation and continuous advancement of AI utilization for its clients. The ABEJA Platform integrates data, decision-making, and operations by establishing AI not as a PoC (proof of concept) but as an operational reality, combining Agentic AI for decision-making with Physical AI for execution. Built on an architecture that assumes "Human in the Loop" collaboration between humans and AI, it enables practical AI deployment from the initial stages, achieving "Zero PoC." This allows for the continuous enhancement of AI integration into business processes, even in mission-critical operations.

Headquarters: 2nd Floor, Bizflex Azabu-Juban, 1-1-14 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Founded: September 10, 2012

Representative: CEO Yusuke Okada

Business: "Enterprise Platform Business" to enable practical AI implementation and continuous advancement for clients

URL: https://abejainc.com