CIMON: The Flying Brain Helping Astronauts in Orbit

A New Era of Human-Machine Collaboration in Space

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) now have a high-tech buddy floating around with them—meet CIMON, the Crew Interactive Mobile Companion. This AI-powered assistant isn’t just cool to look at; it’s changing the way astronauts work in space.

CIMON first arrived at the ISS in June 2018, marking a big step in human-machine teamwork. It’s designed to help astronauts with daily tasks, like showing step-by-step instructions, answering questions, and even recording experiments—all without needing a keyboard or touchscreen. Just say the word, and CIMON responds, thanks to IBM’s Watson AI. It doesn’t just hear commands; it understands context, making conversations feel way more natural.

Meet CIMON – The Flying Brain

CIMON is a spherical robot about the size of a medicine ball, weighing approximately 11 pounds (5 kilograms). With 12 tiny internal fans, it moves effortlessly in microgravity, spinning, tilting, and even “nodding” as it interacts with astronauts—kind of like a friendly, weightless droid.

Here’s what CIMON can do:

• Walk astronauts through experiments and repairs by displaying instructions.
• Keep hands free by letting crew members access files, documents, and videos using voice control.
• Act as a floating camera, reducing the need for astronauts to set up cameras manually.
• Help find misplaced objects and manage inventory—because even in space, things can go missing!

The Making of CIMON

CIMON’s story started in 2016 when a team of engineers from Airbus, IBM, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) teamed up to build an AI-powered assistant for astronauts. The result? A compact, 3D-printed bot packed with cameras for facial recognition, advanced voice detection, and a smart navigation system powered by tiny fans to move around in zero gravity.

Airbus took care of CIMON’s body and movement, IBM provided the AI, and DLR made sure everything worked seamlessly together. It was a true team effort to bring this “floating brain” to life.

CIMON's Debut in Space

German astronaut Alexander Gerst was the first to put CIMON to the test aboard the ISS. In a 90-minute session, he got CIMON to navigate the station, recognize faces, and assist with an experiment. The little bot responded to commands, showed instructions on its screen, and even interacted naturally—proving that AI-powered companions could make life in space easier.

This wasn’t just a fun gimmick. It showed how AI could be a real asset in space missions, reducing workload and making tasks more efficient.

Advancements: CIMON-2

CIMON’s first run was a success, but the team wanted to make it even better. So, in December 2019, CIMON-2 was launched with some major upgrades.

This version had better microphones for improved voice recognition, smoother movement, and an AI system that could detect emotions. Yep, CIMON-2 wasn’t just smarter—it could actually recognize how astronauts were feeling and respond accordingly. The goal? To not only help with tasks but also provide a bit of companionship during long missions.

Why CIMON Matters and the Future

CIMON's presence on the ISS is more than just a cool tech demo. It represents a significant step towards:

• Less stress for astronauts – It takes care of repetitive tasks, allowing astronauts to focus on the important stuff.
• Memory like an elephant – CIMON can remember where astronauts left off in an experiment, so no time is wasted figuring out where to resume.
• Future deep-space missions – AI assistants like CIMON will be key for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, where astronauts will need extra help managing tasks.

And it’s not just about space. The tech behind CIMON could be used on Earth too—in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

CIMON is proof that AI assistants aren’t just for science fiction. As we push further into space, intelligent, human-friendly robots like CIMON could be the future of space travel, helping astronauts work smarter, stay efficient, and maybe even feel a little less alone up there.