NASA plans to use Google's 3D smartphones to be their "eyes and brains" for the International Space Station's free-flying robots.

Currently, the free-flying robots have limited capabilities. Also called SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental satellites), NASA uses these free-flying robots to test the spacecraft when performing un-manned rendezvous and other maneuvers.

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In 2006, the first of these robots arrived at the International Space Station. At the time, they were only capable of precise movements via small jets of CO2 that drives the devices forward at around an inch per second.

In an interview with Reuters, SPHERES project manager Chris Provencher, said they want to add communication devices, camera, increased processing capability, accelerometers and other necessary sensors.

"As we were scratching our heads thinking about what to do, we realized the answer was in our hands. Let's just use smartphones," said Provencher.

NASA is attempting to make robots smarter that can help astronauts and engineers of NASA's Ames Research Centre.

Before Google's 3D smartphones, the NASA personnel sent for low-cost smartphones bought from Best Buy. They used the phones and mounted them on SPHERES to test whether they are capable of delivering messages.

To the astronauts' astonishments, the Best Buy smartphones gave NASA's flying-robots "a wealth of new sensing and visual capabilities."

However, they also recognized the smartphones were still not enough to help space engineers to move smoothly around the space station.

The limitations prompted NASA to give Google's 3D smartphones a try. NASA expects the 3D smartphones will help SPHERES find their way around the spaces station through its sensors.

The smartphones will be launched into space on July 11 with the intention of replacing old models of smartphones.

TagsNASA, flying robots, Spheres, astronaut, Google 3D smartphone