# CIMON > AI robot used on the International Space Station **Wikidata**: [Q55260719](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55260719) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimon_(robot)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cimon-q55260719 ## Summary CIMON (Crew Interactive MObile companioN) is an artificial intelligence robot developed to assist astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Weighing 5 kilograms, this autonomous system was created to study how AI can reduce crew stress and improve efficiency during long-term space missions. ## Key Facts * **Official Name:** Crew Interactive MObile companioN (CIMON). * **Developers:** German Aerospace Center (DLR), Airbus SAS, and IBM. * **Dimensions & Mass:** 32 centimeters wide and weighs 5 kilograms. * **Origin:** Germany. * **Launch Dates:** CIMON-1 launched on June 29, 2018 (SpaceX CRS-15); CIMON-2 launched on December 5, 2019 (SpaceX CRS-19). * **Location:** Operates within the Columbus laboratory module on the ISS. * **Sensors:** Equipped with 14 total sensors, including an array of 7 microphones, 5 cameras, and an ultrasonic transducer. * **Mission Type:** Technology demonstration and observational study (ISS Experiment ID 7639). * **Principal Investigators:** Judith-Irina Buchheim and Alexander Choukér. ## FAQs ### Q: What is the purpose of CIMON? A: CIMON serves as a technology demonstration to observe the effects of an AI assistant on crew efficiency and acceptance. It aims to provide operational support to astronauts who are under substantial stress and workload during long-term missions. ### Q: Who built CIMON? A: The hardware was manufactured by Airbus SAS, with artificial intelligence provided by IBM. The project was funded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. ### Q: When did CIMON arrive at the International Space Station? A: The first unit, CIMON-1, arrived following a launch on June 29, 2018, and entered service on November 15, 2018. A second unit, CIMON-2, launched on December 5, 2019. ## Why It Matters CIMON represents a critical advancement in human-spaceflight interaction, serving as the first AI-based astronaut assistant deployed on the International Space Station. As space agencies plan for longer missions to the Moon and Mars, the psychological and operational support of crews becomes paramount. Spaceflight imposes significant stress and workload on astronauts; CIMON tests the hypothesis that an autonomous, AI-driven companion can alleviate these burdens. By functioning as a "floating" brain—essentially a physical manifestation of an artificial neural network—CIMON allows researchers to measure how effectively humans and machines can collaborate in complex environments. The project moves beyond simple voice commands on computers to a mobile, physical entity capable of seeing, hearing, and navigating. The data gathered from CIMON's interactions during Expeditions 55 through 67 helps scientists understand the "acceptance" factor of AI partners, determining if astronauts view such robots as helpful tools or intrusive hardware. This research lays the groundwork for future robotic systems that may act as primary medical assistants or technical problem-solvers when real-time contact with Earth is delayed. ## Notable For * **First AI Robot on ISS:** Recognized as the first robot of its class (AI model/robot) to interact with the crew on the International Space Station. * **Autonomous Navigation:** Capable of moving autonomously within the Columbus module using ultrasonic transducers and visual markers. * **Multi-Sensory Input:** Features a dense sensor array for a robot of its size, utilizing 5 cameras and 7 microphones to understand its environment and the emotional state of the crew. * **Long-Duration Operation:** Has been utilized across multiple ISS expeditions (from Expedition 55 to Expedition 67), demonstrating the longevity of the hardware and software in microgravity. ## Body ### Development and Specifications CIMON is a spherical, free-flying robot with a width of 32 centimeters and a mass of 5 kilograms. It was developed through a collaboration between the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Airbus SAS (manufacturer), and IBM (AI developer). The project is a "Pilot Study" categorized as an International Space Station experiment (ID 7639). The unit's physical frame constitutes "computer hardware" designed for microgravity, housing the compute power necessary to run an "individual artificial neural network considered intelligent." It was funded primarily by DLR and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, with its country of origin listed as Germany. ### Technical Sensory Systems To interact with the crew and navigate the ISS, CIMON utilizes a specific set of hardware components: * **Visuals:** 5 internal cameras. * **Audio:** A microphone array consisting of 7 individual microphones. * **Navigation:** An ultrasonic transducer for spatial awareness. ### Mission Timeline The project has seen two primary iterations deployed to the Columbus laboratory module: * **CIMON-1:** Launched aboard SpaceX CRS-15 on June 29, 2018. It officially entered service on November 15, 2018, and concluded its mission with a landing on August 27, 2019. * **CIMON-2:** Launched aboard SpaceX CRS-19 on December 5, 2019, and entered service in February 2020. ### Scientific Objectives The core function of CIMON is an observational study regarding human-machine teams. According to the project's principal investigators, Judith-Irina Buchheim and Alexander Choukér, the study seeks "insights into the effects on crew support by an artificial intelligence (AI), in terms of efficiency and acceptance during long-term missions in space." The robot acts as a complex tool to mitigate the "substantial amount of stress and workload" inherent in spaceflight. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2018-02-hello-i-am-cimon) 2. [Source](https://eea.spaceflight.esa.int/portal/exp/?id=9686) 3. [CIMON - Crew Interactive MObile companioN (CIMON-1 and -2) (DLR National Contribution). European Space Agency](https://eea.spaceflight.esa.int/portal/exp/?id=9686) 4. [Source](https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2018/1/20180302_cimon-the-intelligent-astronaut-assistant_26307) 5. [Source](https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/cimon-the-ai-based-astronaut-assistant-gets-working-on-the-iss) 6. [Source](https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-09-science-and-education-new-tasks-for-cimon)