The astronaut assistant Cimon (Crew Interactive Mobile Companion) is a scientific project with the first artificial intelligence (AI) for the ISS. The free-flying technology demonstrator is designed to assist astronauts with routine tasks, for example by displaying procedures or offering solutions to problems. Its screen shows a friendly face, its voice and the AI make it a "colleague" of the crew members, with whom they can enter into a dialog. Among other things, the mission companion is intended to relieve them of daily routine tasks and act as an early warning system in the event of technical problems. The artificial assistant was developed by Airbus in Friedrichshafen on behalf of the Space Administration at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Brushless DC-Servomotors Series 0824...B (Image: Faulhaber)

The astronaut assistant in the Cimon project is about the size of a medicine ball and weighs around five kilograms. In the weightlessness of space, it floats freely in space and flies to the astronaut who calls for its help when called upon. It is moved by fourteen small propellers that propel it into the desired position and hold it there. They are driven by brushless DC servomotors from Faulhaber's 0824 series; they are controlled by speed controllers from the SC1801 series. The motors were selected for their reliability and long service life combined with very small dimensions, low weight and low energy consumption.

German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst's Horizons mission is scheduled to take place between June and December 2018. The artificial intelligence of the technology demonstrator was trained using voice samples and photos of him, among other things. Gerst is to carry out three tests with the mission companion: Astronaut and assistant will experiment with crystals, solve the Rubik's cube together and carry out a complex medical experiment in which Cimon will announce the individual steps and serve as an "intelligent" flying camera. While Gerst will return to Earth at the end of the mission, the artificial assistant will remain on board and support future missions. as