A new robot with artificial intelligence is headed for the International Space Station. The robot will assist astronauts at the ISS in low Earth orbit. It is called CIMON 2. It features upgrades over its predecessor, CIMON. CIMON was launched in July 2018 and returned from the ISS onboard the SpaceX CRS-18 spacecraft in August this year. The new robot has been updated with the Watson Tone Analyzer from the IBM Cloud. It has more sensitive microphones and is laden with an advanced sense of orientation than the previous robot. Besides, the artificial intelligence capabilities and the stability of the complex software have also been significantly enhanced. This enables COMIN 2 to react to the emotions of astronauts.
CIMON 2 will soon join the International Space Station crew and assist astronauts. It has been designed at the German Aerospace Center. It will pick up where CIMON left off and remain there for up to next three years. CIMON stayed at the ISS for fourteen months. CIMON 2 will make work more efficient in the ISS. It can pass on instructions for repairs and documenting experiments. Also, it can offer voice-controlled access to reference material. The latest technology shows how humans and robots can collaborate in space. Robots like CIMON and CIMON 2 will play a significant role in future missions to the Moon, Mars and other planets.
Although developing and sending robots into outer space for multiple tasks is a complicated process, they are integral to several space programs. Besides exploration, they have even clicked selfies on Mars, highlighting how technologies could be used for further studies. Scientists at NASA’s Langley Research Center are also experimenting with flexible, silicone-based robots. They are being tested for some dangerous jobs in space. Scientists are looking at whether robots can form a shelter to protect astronauts during dust storms on Mars. Also, there is a good chance that when the first person lands on Mars, a robot companion will be there to share the limelight.