AI keeps an eye on Earth

Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to analyse satellite imagery for many different reasons. But why not go one step further? A team from Adática Engineering in Spain is working to develop an AI-based system that will learn how to control ESA's OPS-SAT satellite and actively track interesting features on the surface of Earth with OPS-SAT's camera.

The team will develop two different AI systems and upload them to the experimental ESA satellite. The first will process the images taken using OPS-SAT's camera to detect interesting targets. It will then pass the location of these features on to a second algorithm that will decide how to rotate the spacecraft to keep the target centred in the camera's field of view.

"AI is destined to boost the development of a new generation of systems that will get more from current hardware, and even overcome the performance of those systems now offered in the market of space applications," says Félix Ramón López Martínez, Adática innovation manager.

"The funding from ESA Discovery allows us to develop a prototype and measure its performance on the OPS-SAT platform," highlights Félix. "From that point onwards, our AI-based system could be adapted to pave the way for upgrades to the tracking capabilities of other satellites too. Eventually, it would also demonstrate the potential of a new generation of AI-based systems that can get more out of current 'commercial off-the-shelf' elements at a lower cost in areas as diverse as Earth observation, space exploration or security."

ESA OPS-SAT manager David Evans adds: "At ESA, we want to encourage the European space industry to test their innovations in orbit and build confidence in their ideas at as early a stage as possible. Access to OPS-SAT and the funding from ESA Discovery are the perfect way to make that happen."