German And Japanese Robots Communicate With Each Other On the ISS for the First Time

Experiment German And Japanese Robots Communicate With Each Other On the ISS for the First Time

2025-09-15 Source: DLR | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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What initially sounds simple is a premiere in space. This required not only two systems to interact that were never designed for this purpose but also to meet the high safety standards of the ISS.

In the experiment, Int-Ball 2 was controlled via Cimon and searched for objects hidden in the Kibo module on the ISS.(Image: DLR/ESA/JAXA/NASA) — In the experiment, Int-Ball 2 was controlled via Cimon and searched for objects hidden in the Kibo module on the ISS.
(Image: DLR/ESA/JAXA/NASA)

Onboard the International Space Station (ISS), two assistant robots recently made technological history: the robot Cimon from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Int-Ball 2 from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) were able to communicate with each other for the first time as part of the Ichiban experiment, despite both systems not being originally designed for this purpose. This was made possible by the development of new interface standards that also accounted for the strict network security requirements of the ISS.

In the experiment, astronaut Takuya Ōnishi controlled Int-Ball 2 via voice commands to Cimon. The camera drone then searched the Kibo module for hidden objects such as tools or even its predecessor Int-Ball 1 and transmitted the images directly to Cimon's display.

According to the researchers, however, the benefits go far beyond the experiment: through networking, assistant robots will be able to take on more complex tasks in the future, document experiments, locate defects inside the station, or identify free-floating objects that pose risks. "The first communication between the independently developed systems Cimon and Int-Ball 2 paves the way for the networking of artificial intelligence and robotics in exploration. This achievement will significantly enhance support for astronauts," says Christian Rogon, project manager at DLR.

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Experiment German And Japanese Robots Communicate With Each Other On the ISS for the First Time

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