IBM’s “flying brain” Watson heads into space
As the space industry steps looks to explore more space and even colonise and mine new planets the demands on astronauts is increasing, so CIMON and its descendents will be used to help lighten their load and make them more productive.
Key takeaways
- First conceived of in August 2016, CIMON has been built with one specific astronaut in mind from the beginning.
- Airbus worked with German astronaut Alexander Gerst in everything from training CIMON to recognise his voice to the AI's graphic interface.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2018) 'IBM’s “flying brain” Watson heads into space', 311 Institute, 8 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/ibms-flying-brain-watson-heads-into-space/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
IBM Watson is coming to the International Space Station (ISS) in the form of a "floating brain," after Airbus went out to find a partner who could help them build an Artificial Intelligence (AI) specifically designed for living on the ISS where Watson’s new name will be Crew Interactive Mobile Companion, or CIMON for short.
“CIMON will be the first AI-based mission and flight assistance system,” said Manfred Jaumann, Head of Microgravity Payloads at Airbus, “we are the first company in Europe to carry a free flyer, a kind of flying brain, to the ISS and to develop artificial intelligence for the crew on board the space station.”
Meet CIMON
CIMON, which at first glance doesn’t look too dissimilar to some of the other robots that are already flying around the ISS, is around the size of a medicine ball and weighs around 11 pounds (5 kg), and its entire structure, which is made up of plastic and metal, was created using 3D printing.
First conceived of in August 2016, CIMON has been built with one specific astronaut in mind from the beginning. Airbus worked with German astronaut Alexander Gerst in everything from training CIMON to recognise his voice to the AI's graphic interface.
After CIMON's functional testing is complete, Gerst will take it into space where it will begin helping him in three test runs, namely experimenting with crystals, working together to solve a Rubik’s cube and performing a complex medical experiment using CIMON as a flying camera.
CIMON will only have limited features in its initial voyage into space, which could come as early as next month and its basic testing will consist of optimising what are known as GNC algorithms, which stands for guidance, navigation and control, but researchers have high hopes that it, or some equivalent, will be able to accompany astronauts on longer journeys into space in the future.
Although Watson hasn't always lived up to what some have called its “marketing hype” its framework should provide a good guide for creating a usable assistant in space, and if it can get that Rubik's cube down with Gerst, then it could be one step closer to becoming a sidekick for future astronauts everywhere.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
As the space industry steps looks to explore more space and even colonise and mine new planets the demands on astronauts is increasing, so CIMON and its descendents will be used to help lighten their load and make them more productive.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 8 March 2018. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2018). IBM’s “flying brain” Watson heads into space. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/ibms-flying-brain-watson-heads-into-space/
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