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CIMON-2 Robot This Free-Flying Robot Head Is Like Alexa for Astronauts CIMON-2 is a football-sized, free-flying technology demonstrator equipped with artificial intelligence for the astronaut assistant of tomorrow. It was launched on December 5, 2019 for the International Space Station. CIMON-2 demonstrated its interactive capabilities to ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.
New, Emotionally Intelligent Robot CIMON 2 Heads to Space Station The astronaut assistant known as CIMON 2 just launched for the orbiting lab aboard SpaceX's robotic Dragon cargo capsule, which lifted off today (Dec. 5) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
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CIMON 2 is following in the footsteps of the original CIMON (Crew Interactive Mobile Companion), which reached the ISS in the summer of 2018, also aboard a Dragon. Both robots were developed by the European aerospace company Airbus on behalf of the German space agency, DLR, and employ IBM's Watson system as their AI.
CIMON-2 took photos and videos that it shared with Parmitano. The newest version of the astronaut assistant includes more sensitive microphones and a more developed sense of orientation than the CIMON. Autonomy has increased 30%. CIMON 2 features some significant upgrades over its predecessor, which was a technology demonstration designed to show how humans and robots can collaborate in the space environment. For example, the newer robot has been updated with the "Watson Tone Analyzer" from the IBM Cloud, giving CIMON 2 the ability to assess and react to astronauts' emotions.
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"With this update, CIMON has transformed from a scientific assistant to an empathetic conversational partner," IBM representatives wrote in a statement. "Specifically, CIMON 2 has more sensitive microphones and an advanced sense of orientation. These AI capabilities and the stability of the complex software applications have also been significantly improved in the new CIMON 2." This robot retains the core capabilities of the first CIMON, which was roughly spherical, weighed about 11 lbs. (5 kilograms) and had a simple, cartoony face. CIMON was also mobile; it could jet around the ISS by sucking in air and blowing it out strategically via a system of tubes. The original CIMON was "tailored to" European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst and helped the spaceflyer perform several different experiments in Earth orbit. Such work, and that of CIMON 2, could help lay the foundation for a powerful partnership between humanity and machine in the final frontier, the robot's developers have said.
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CIMON is an artificial intelligence-powered assistant to help astronauts and increase the efficiency of work and repairs at the International Space Station (ISS). Its latest version, which is currently on board the ISS, the CIMON-2, has now successfully completed its initial testing phase. The assistant made its journey to the ISS on December 5, last year. And it is set to remain on the space station for a period of three years. For the initial testing phase, CIMON-2's autonomous flight capabilities, voice control of navigation and other tasks were put through the works. Consequently, it was able to navigate to specific points within the Columbus module, regardless of where it was located, with only verbal commands. Similarly, the assistant was also able to capture photos and videos for the astronauts on command, which could prove to be a nifty convenience when conducting scientific experiments.
CIMON-2 highlights:
1. It can detect emotions and language tones, and can react empathetically to its conversational partners (and does so by using Watson Tone Analyzer, AI provided by IBM). 2. It can reach a specific posit by verbal commands. 3. It can take and share photos and videos and show results to an astronaut.
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AI responds to voice commands:
Another aim of the device was to help reduce the stress on the astronauts and study how humans respond to social isolation in space. Compared to its predecessorC CIMON-2 exhibits a 30 percent increase in autonomy and it aims for a more human-like experience by leveraging IBM's Watson Tone Analyzer. And this allows the assistant to drive more empathetic conversations. All in all, IBM and its partners in this project, including Airbus, LMU, and ESA, commented that they "are very satisfied with the performance of CIMON-2 so far."
The companionable space robot:
A goal of the project is to look into the potential of how an intelligent assistant like CIMON-2 can reduce an astronaut's stress, as it behaves like a partner and companion--and work associate, as it supports in the extensive work on experiments, maintenance, and repairs. In addition to http://www.myrobostation.com/
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the stress of work duties, stress could potentially result from long-term isolation or group-dynamics during long-term missions. This benefit could be applied on Earth, too.
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