SEC Sponsors the 7th "Kibo" Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC) - Supporting the Development of Young Engineers and Advancing Space Robot Technology

SEC Inc. (President and CEO: Shintaro Sakurai) will sponsor the 7th "Kibo" Robot Programming Challenge, hosted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Through our sponsorship of this competition, we aim to contribute to the development of young engineers who will lead future space development and robot technology, while also supporting the advancement of space robot technology.

About the "Kibo" Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC)

The "Kibo" Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC: Kibo Robot Programming Challenge) is an international programming competition aimed at fostering future engineers. Participants develop programs to control Int-Ball2 (JAXA), a drone robot inside the International Space Station (ISS), and Astrobee (NASA), competing on the speed and accuracy of their solutions to given tasks.

For its 7th iteration, Int-Ball2, developed by JAXA, will be adopted as the competition subject, replacing Astrobee used in previous competitions. Int-Ball2 offers a high degree of freedom in software development, creating a competitive environment that further unleashes participants' creativity and ingenuity.

Kibo-RPC Portal Site (JAXA): https://jaxa.krpc.jp/ja

Kibo-RPC and SEC

Since fiscal year 2019, SEC has been involved in the development and operation of the software platform and portal site used by students for program development in this competition, and has also supported the operation of preliminary competitions held in various countries. We have also been a continuous sponsor since the first competition.

SEC has been involved in the development of Int-Ball2, which will be used in this year's competition, and also supports its operations on the ISS. We will contribute to this competition not only through the technical and operational aspects of the Int-Ball2 itself.

Int-Ball2 and SEC

Int-Ball2 is an indoor drone that supports astronauts working on the ISS. The first unit was launched in 2017, and the second unit, Int-Ball2, was launched in 2023. By flying around the zero-gravity interior and capturing photos and videos of space experiments and technology demonstrations on behalf of astronauts, it contributes to reducing the burden on astronauts.

SEC, commissioned by JAXA, developed the system integration software that manages the various software embedded in Int-Ball2. We are also responsible for developing the ground operation support system that visualizes remote monitoring data received from Int-Ball2 in orbit and allows for its remote operation. We developed Int-Ball2's main function, the camera, and realized the streaming of videos shot in orbit to the ground.

Image courtesy: JAXA/NASA

About SEC Inc.

SEC is a software company specializing in real-time technology, with the slogan "For the Safety and Development of Society." We provide real-time software for "social infrastructure fields that support societal safety," such as transportation, defense, healthcare, and environmental energy, as well as "advanced space fields that contribute to societal development," such as scientific satellites, robots, autonomous driving, edge AI, XR, and quantum computing. https://www.sec.co.jp

Contact for News Release Inquiries:

SEC Inc. Public Relations Tel: 03-5491-4770 Inquiry Form: https://www.sec.co.jp/ja/contact/contact.html