JP2002166900A - Space experimental device and system and method for supplying information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a space experimental device saving a space and reducing experimental costs and to provide a system and a method for supplying information for supplying information regarding space experiments executed by the space experimental device to people on the earth via communication networks. SOLUTION: This space experimental device comprises a hollow bag 1 or a contractible/expandable container, a space experimental part 2 contained in the bag 1 or the container for executing the space experiments, and an air supplying/exhausting part 3 for supplying air into the bag 1 or the container or discharging air inside the bag.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a space experiment apparatus, an information providing service, and an information providing method, and more particularly to a space experiment apparatus for performing a space experiment such as a plant experiment in a zero gravity environment or a microgravity environment, and the space experiment. The present invention relates to an information providing system and an information providing method for providing space experiment information transmitted from a device by radio waves to a person on the earth via a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various space experiments have been conducted on artificial satellites, space shuttles, space stations, and the like in a zero gravity environment or a microgravity environment. Various devices for performing such a space experiment have been conventionally proposed.

[0003] Space experiment information can be broadcasted and viewed to people on the earth through television, the Internet, and the like.

[0004]

However, since the conventional space experiment apparatus is a large-scale and complicated structure,
There is a problem that a large space is required and an experiment cost is required.

[0005] Further, a service as a business model for providing space experiment information to persons on the earth via a communication network has not been provided so far.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a space experiment apparatus capable of saving space and reducing the cost of experiments and space experiment information performed by the space experiment apparatus on the earth via a communication network. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information providing system and an information providing method for providing the information to a person having a problem.

[0007]

A space experiment apparatus according to the present invention comprises a hollow bag or a container capable of contracting and expanding, a space experiment section housed in the bag or the container and performing a space experiment, and the bag or the container. And an air feeding and discharging means for feeding air into the inside or discharging air from the bag.

[0008] The bag or the container may have a plurality of units, and a switching valve for switching air supply and exhaust may be provided between each bag or container and the air supply and exhaust means.

[0009] A protective film for protecting the bag or the container may be provided.

[0010] An image pickup means for picking up an image of a space experiment performed in the space experiment section may be provided.

[0011] The imaging means may be capable of being remotely operated.

[0012] An advertisement or information may be projected on the background of the space experiment imaged by the imaging means.

[0013] The imaging means may image only an object to be tested in the space experiment section so that the information can be processed on the ground as video information.

[0014] An illumination means for illuminating the space experiment unit may be provided.

[0015] A sound collecting microphone may be provided in the space experiment unit.

[0016] The imaging means, lighting means or sound collecting microphone may be fixed to the bag or the container.

In the space experiment section, an experiment for growing a plant may be performed.

[0018] The space experiment section may conduct an experiment on an animal or an insect.

[0019] The space experiment section may conduct an experiment relating to analysis of a molecular structure.

[0020] The space experiment section includes DNA by electric induction.
An experiment for obtaining genetic information such as genomic information by analysis or the like may be performed.

[0021] A temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the space experiment unit may be provided.

[0022] A humidity control unit for controlling the humidity of the space experiment unit may be provided.

[0023] A liquid supply unit for supplying a liquid such as water to the space experiment unit may be provided.

[0024] A fertilizer supply unit for supplying fertilizer to the space experiment unit may be provided.

[0025] A wind control unit such as a fan for controlling wind supplied to the space experiment unit may be provided.

A solar cell power supply for converting solar energy into electric energy may be provided.

[0027] All, a part, or a plurality of parts of the bag or the container may be transparent.

The bag or the container may be reduced and stored in an empty specification such as an artificial satellite, a space shuttle, or a space station, and the bag or the container may be expanded during an experiment.

[0029] An information providing system according to the present invention comprises a space experiment device for performing a space experiment, a management server for receiving and managing space experiment information transmitted from the space experiment device by radio waves, a management server and a communication network. And a terminal that receives the space experiment information managed by the management server.

[0030] An advertisement may be displayed on the display screen of the terminal together with the space experiment information.

The information providing method according to the present invention includes a step of receiving space experiment information transmitted from a space experiment apparatus by radio waves, a step of managing the received space experiment information by a management server, and a step of: Receiving the managed space experiment information by the terminal.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a space experiment device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the space experiment apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollow bag 1, a space experiment section 2 housed in the bag 1, and performing a space experiment. It has an air sending / discharging section 3 for sending air into the bag 1 or exhausting the air inside the bag 1 and a solar cell power supply section 4 for converting sunlight energy into electric energy.

The bag 1 is made of a heat-resistant material. Further, in order to enhance the function of the bag 1 and ensure safety, a plurality of bags 1 may be stacked. Further, a string for collection may be attached to the bag 1.

The space experiment section 2 carries out a growth experiment of plants and crops (rice, wheat, etc.) under the theme of, for example, "Does roses bloom in space?" Have. The space experiment section 2 has a liquid supply section for supplying liquid such as water, a fertilizer supply section for supplying fertilizer, and the like.

The space experiment section 2 may carry out experiments on animals or insects. In addition, the space experiment unit 2 may perform an experiment related to analysis of molecular structure or an experiment to acquire genetic information such as genomic information by DNA analysis using electric induction.

As the air supply / exhaust section 3, for example, an air compression tank, a bonpe or the like is used.

The air supply / exhaust section 3 and the bag 1 are connected by a pipe 5, and air is supplied and exhausted through an inlet / outlet 6 provided at the end of the pipe 5. Thereby, the bag 1 can be expanded and contracted.

The solar cell power supply 4 is used as a power supply for each device.

The space experiment device according to the present invention also includes a space experiment unit 2
(Image capturing means) 7 for capturing an image of the state of the space experiment performed by the camera, and a lighting device 8 for illuminating the space experiment unit 2.

It is preferable that the camera 7 can be remotely controlled from the ground or the like. Advertising and information may be projected on the background of the space experiment imaged by the camera 7. Alternatively, all, a part, or a plurality of parts of the bag 1 may be transparent, and an external scene may be captured by the camera 7. Further, the camera 7 may image only an object to be tested in the space experiment unit so that it can be processed on the ground as image information.

Further, a sound collecting microphone may be provided in the space experiment unit 2 to acquire sound information during the experiment performed in the space experiment unit 2.

A temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the space experiment unit 2, a humidity control unit for controlling the humidity of the space experiment unit 2, a wind control unit such as a fan for controlling the wind supplied to the space experiment unit 2, etc. May have. Convection may be generated in the bag 1 by the wind control unit.

The camera 7, the lighting device 8, the sound collecting microphone and the like may be fixed to the bag 1.

According to the space experiment apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the bag 1 can be inflated or contracted by the air supply / exhaust unit 3, so that the bag 1 is inflated during the experiment, After the end, the bag 1 is contracted to save space. In addition, since the apparatus has a simple configuration, the experiment cost can be reduced. Further, the experiment space can be appropriately changed by changing the inflated volume of the bag 1, so that the storage specifications of the artificial satellite, the space shuttle, the space station, and the like can be effectively used.

Note that a container capable of contracting and expanding may be used instead of the bag 1.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a space experiment apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, in the second embodiment, a plurality of bags 1 are provided (three in FIG. 2), and air is sent and discharged to a pipe 5 between each of the bags 1 and the air sending and discharging unit 3. A switching valve 9 for switching is provided. Thus, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2A, it is possible to send an air to the bag 1c to perform the experiment only in the bag 1c, or to send an air to the bag 1b and conduct the experiment only in the bag 1b as shown in FIG. 2B. it can.

According to the second embodiment, since a plurality of bags 1 are provided, an experiment can be performed efficiently, and a comparative experiment can be performed under different conditions for each bag 1. .

It is to be noted that a plurality of bags 1 may be inflated to perform a plurality of experiments at the same time, or that only one bag 1 may be inflated to perform an experiment. Further, a container that can be contracted and expanded may be used instead of the bag 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a space experiment apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, a protective film 10 is provided outside the bag 1 to protect the bag 1. The protective film 10 is made of a heat-resistant material. Further, in order to enhance the function of the protective film 10 and secure safety, a plurality of protective films 10 may be stacked.

According to the third embodiment, since the protective film 10 for protecting the bag 1 is provided, the reliability of the space experiment performed in the bag 1 can be improved.

It is to be noted that a container capable of contracting and expanding may be used instead of the bag 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an information providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the information providing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is provided in an artificial satellite, a space shuttle, a space station, and the like, and is a space experiment device 1 for performing a space experiment.
1 and a management server 12 for receiving and managing the space experiment information performed by the space experiment apparatus 11 by radio waves.
And a terminal 14 connected to the management server 12 via the communication network 13 and receiving the space experiment information managed by the management server 12.

The management server 12 is an information processing device such as a workstation server. Management server 12
Is a receiving unit 1 having an antenna 12a for receiving the space experiment information transmitted from the space experiment device 11 by radio waves.
2b, an information management unit 12c such as a database that manages the received space experiment information, and data transmission / reception between the communication network 13 and the space experiment information managed by the information management unit 12c. And a communication unit 12d for sending to A plurality of management servers 12 may be installed at different locations (for example, the United States and Japan).

The terminal 14 is an information processing device such as a personal computer having a network connection function, a television, a portable terminal device, and a mobile phone. Note that the terminal 14 may belong to another network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

The communication network 13 is, for example, the Internet (TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol).
l / Internet Protocol).

On the display screen of the terminal 14, advertisements such as a company advertisement and a product advertisement may be displayed together with the space experiment information.

Next, an information providing method performed by the above information providing system will be described. First, the receiving unit 12b of the management server 12 receives the space experiment information transmitted from the space experiment apparatus 11 by radio waves.

Next, the management server 12 extracts space experiment information from the received radio waves, and manages the extracted space experiment information with the information management unit 12c. In the information management unit 12c, the space experiment information is classified according to contents, time, and the like.

Next, the space experiment information managed by the management server 12 is received by the terminal 14. In the terminal 14, the received space experiment information is displayed on a display, printed by a printer, or stored in a hard disk. Thereby, the operator of the terminal 14
Space experiment information can be obtained.

According to the fourth embodiment, for example, the usage fee is collected when the terminal 14 accesses the management server 12 or the access is restricted by a membership system so that only a specific person can be accessed. Since useful space experiment information can be provided, the service as a business model becomes possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[0063]

According to the space experiment apparatus of the present invention, the bag or the container can be expanded or contracted by the air feeding and discharging means. Therefore, the bag or the container is inflated during the experiment, and the bag or the container is expanded before or after the experiment. By shrinking the container, space can be saved. In addition, since the apparatus has a simple configuration, the experiment cost can be reduced. Further, the experiment space can be appropriately changed by changing the inflated volume of the bag or the container, so that the storage specifications of the artificial satellite, the space shuttle, the space station, and the like can be effectively used.

When a plurality of bags or containers are provided, experiments can be performed efficiently, and comparative experiments can be performed under different conditions for each bag.

When a protective film for protecting the bag or the container is provided, the reliability of the space experiment performed in the bag or the container can be improved.

According to the information providing system and the information providing method of the present invention, for example, by collecting a usage fee when accessing the management server from the terminal or providing access restriction by membership only, Since useful space experiment information can be provided only to the user, a service as a business model becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a space experiment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams for describing a space experiment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing a space experiment device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an information providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: bag 2: space experiment section 3: air supply / exhaust section 4: solar cell power supply section 5: piping 6: doorway 7: camera 8: lighting device 9: switching valve 10: protective film 11: space experiment device 12: management server 12a: Antenna 12b: Receiving Unit 12c: Information Management Unit 12d: Communication Unit 13: Communication Network 14: Terminal

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Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A hollow bag or a container capable of contracting and inflating, a space experiment unit stored in the bag or the container and performing a space experiment, and an air supply or air in the bag or the container. A space experiment device, comprising: an air feeding / discharging means for discharging air. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said bag or container has a plurality of bags, and a switching valve for switching air supply and exhaust is provided between each bag or container and said air supply and exhaust means. Item 3. The space experiment device according to item 1. 3. The space experiment device according to claim 1, further comprising a protective film for protecting the bag or the container. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising imaging means for imaging a state of a space experiment performed by said space experiment unit.
4. The space experiment device according to any one of Items 3 to 3. 5. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said imaging means can be remotely operated. 6. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an advertisement or information is projected on the background of the space experiment imaged by said imaging means. 7. The space according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the imaging means images only an object to be tested in the space experiment section so that it can be processed on the ground as video information. Experimental device. 8. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising illumination means for illuminating the space experiment section. 9. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sound collecting microphone is provided in the space experiment section. 10. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the imaging means, the lighting means, or the sound collecting microphone is fixed to the bag or the container. 11. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the space experiment section performs an experiment for growing a plant. 12. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the space experiment section performs an experiment on animals or insects. 13. The space experiment unit according to claim 1, wherein an experiment relating to analysis of a molecular structure is performed.
Space experiment apparatus according to any one of the above items. 14. The space experiment unit includes a DN by electric induction.
The space experiment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an experiment for acquiring genetic information such as genome information by A analysis or the like is performed. 15. The space experiment device according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature control unit for controlling a temperature of the space experiment unit. 16. The space experiment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a humidity control section for controlling the humidity of the space experiment section. 17. A liquid supply unit for supplying a liquid such as water to the space experiment unit.
Space experiment apparatus according to any one of the above items. 18. The space experiment device according to claim 1, further comprising a fertilizer supply unit that supplies fertilizer to the space experiment unit. 19. A wind control unit such as a fan for controlling wind supplied to the space experiment unit.
Space experiment apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 18. 20. The space experiment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising a solar cell power supply unit for converting solar energy into electric energy. 21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all or a part or a plurality of the bags or the containers are transparent.
The space experiment device according to any one of the above items. 22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bag or the container is reduced and stored in an empty specification such as an artificial satellite, a space shuttle, or a space station, and the bag or the container is expanded during an experiment. The space experiment device according to any one of the above items. 23. A space experiment device for performing a space experiment, a management server for receiving and managing space experiment information transmitted by radio waves from the space experiment device, and a management server connected to the management server via a communication network;
A terminal for receiving space experiment information managed by the management server. 24. The information providing system according to claim 23, wherein an advertisement is displayed together with space experiment information on a display screen of said terminal. 25. A step of receiving space experiment information transmitted from a space experiment apparatus by radio waves, a step of managing the received space experiment information by a management server, and a step of space experiment information managed by the management server Receiving the information by a terminal.