In a 1st, AI-backed satellite provides real-time terrestrial object identification

A cutting-edge satellite equipped with artificial intelligence technology was able to identify 142 ships outside the port within minutes.

This imaging feat has been achieved by the CogniSAT-6 satellite, which is operated by Dublin-based space technology firm Ubotica. The satellite was launched in March of this year.

This satellite used artificial intelligence to identify and acquire details of terrestrial objects in real time for the first time. With no delay, the satellite transmitted a downlink to its ground controllers.

According to the press release, this is said to be a global first for a commercial Live Earth Intelligence system. This form of real-time observation might be extremely beneficial in detecting illicit fishing, observing ocean systems, and monitoring climate change.

“This is a paradigm shift for Earth Observation. The industry has long sought a model of live Earth intelligence, where insights are generated onboard satellite and instantly relayed to the ground. The CogniSAT-6 mission is the first to achieve Live Earth Intelligence, revolutionizing the capabilities and cost-efficiency of Earth Observation,” said Fintan Buckley, CEO of Ubotica.

Smart satellite sends data in real-time

There is a fundamental issue with how the Earth has been seen until now by satellites.

The current Earth observation methods are slow, costly, and ineffective. Moreover, the current satellites typically transmit images only when they pass over a downlink ground station, which may sometimes take multiple days to happen.

Plus, satellites gather data without interpretation, requiring time-consuming ground processing.

However, with the advent of AI, satellites are getting more intelligent and efficient. Interestingly, this advanced satellite uses a real-time network of satellites to relay data directly to Earth with no delay.

CogniSAT-6 can identify ships, their size, and even their direction, all in real-time. Notably, this ship location data can be combined with Automatic Identification System (AIS) information to identify suspicious vessels.

“It revolutionizes Earth observation by enabling satellites to understand what they see and to deliver affordable, real-time, and actionable insights crucial for economic growth, climate monitoring, and global security,” the statement noted.

Ships identification from orbit

During a recent observation, the satellite captured an image of Khor Fakkan, UAE. SPACE:AI swiftly analyzed the data, identifying 142 ships outside the port at an impressive speed of 21.3 km² per second.

The satellite also observed Galveston, Texas, the entrance to Houston. Its AI rapidly detected 37 ships entering the channel and immediately sent this information to ground control.

“Our team pioneered a sophisticated synthesis flow, creating realistic image training sets that precisely simulated the CogniSAT-6 imager’s output. This advanced approach enabled our algorithms to generate accurate insights from the very first images captured in orbit, demonstrating Ubotica’s leading-edge expertise in space technology,” the press release by the company stated.

Ship detection is just one of many possible Earth observation uses for SPACE:AI. It can be used to identify oil spills, monitor ocean ecosystems, and more in real time.

This satellite is making the observation of our blue planet “faster, more affordable, and more actionable.”