Artificial intelligence satellite will be launched to monitor Earth

A European Space Agency (ESA, its acronym in English) should launch the Φsat-2 satellitewhich has the use of artificial intelligence to improve Earth observation, later this month.

The integration of artificial intelligence into new satellites and sensors used for Earth observation has significantly improved the results obtained, helping to transform large amounts of raw data into useful observations and insights.

ESA launched its first satellite equipped with AI in 2020, the Ф-sat-1. Its successor is equipped with a multispectral camera and a powerful AI computer that analyzes and processes images in real time, promising to offer more efficient ways to monitor what happens on our planet from space.

“Φsat-2 will unlock a new era of real-time insights from space and will enable custom AI applications to be easily developed, installed and operated on the satellite, even in orbit. This adaptability maximizes the value of the satellite for scientists, businesses and governments,” said ESA Φsat-2 technical officer Nicola Melega.

Measuring just 22 x 10 x 33 cm, Φsat-2 is equipped with six AI applications, aiming to:

• Detect, classify and provide information about the distribution of clouds in the atmosphere: Φsat-2 must process these images while still in orbit, ensuring that only clear, usable images are sent back to Earth;
• Transform satellite images into street maps: This tool makes it easier for teams to respond to emergencies, allowing them to identify accessible roads during disasters such as floods or earthquakes;
• Detect and classify marine vessels: would facilitate the monitoring of activities such as illegal fishing, for example, and maritime security;
• Compress images in orbit: by reducing the size of the files, the data download speed will be faster and they can be reconstructed using a decoder;
• Detect marine anomalies: the tool helps identify threats to marine ecosystems, such as oil spills or harmful algal blooms;
• Detect forest fires: Images can help firefighters locate wildfires, track fire spread, and identify potential hazards.

The Φsat-2 mission is a collaborative effort between ESA and Open Cosmos.