The memory-exploration machine in Assassin’s Creed is called the Animus.
The Animus is a fictional device that allows a person to experience genetic memories inherited from ancestors. In the first game, Desmond Miles is forced to use an Animus by Abstergo Industries, a modern organization descended from the Templars’ cause. His sessions let players enter Altaïr’s life during the Third Crusade.
The series uses the Animus to connect modern-day science fiction with historical action. It also explains why characters can visit different periods without the modern protagonist literally traveling through time. Later games introduce updated Animus systems, including portable and entertainment-oriented versions.
The Animus is sometimes confused with the Helix. Helix is a later Abstergo entertainment platform, especially important in Assassin’s Creed Unity and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Eagle Vision is instead a perception ability used by characters, not a machine.