Imagine a spacecraft that can think and act on its own, executing complex missions. This vision is becoming a reality thanks to scientists at the University of Leicester. With a £690,000 grant, they are developing cutting-edge AI algorithms that are small enough to fit within the limited computational space of spacecraft, promising a new era of space exploration.
Algorithms are the hidden force of space missions, guiding spacecraft and processing immense amounts of data. However, the advanced AI tools required for these tasks are currently too large and power-hungry for the confined computing capacity of spacecraft.
“Our novel approach to reduce algorithm size considerably while maintaining high accuracy performance provides a disruptive enabling technology poised to unlock a wide range of real-time services from space that previously would not have been possible due to their computational complexity,” said Tanya Vladimirova, the principal investigator of the project.
The University of Leicester’s research team is focused on creating AI algorithm models specifically designed for spaceflight. These models aim to be both compact and energy-efficient, addressing the unique constraints of spacecraft. This interdisciplinary effort involves the university’s computing, physics, and innovation park departments.
The project, known as REALM (Rapid Information Extraction for Environmental Remote Sensing Onboard Spacecraft through the Application of Light Machine Learning Models in Payload Computing Systems), introduces a technique called sparse-split-parallelism (SSP). This innovative method significantly reduces the size of AI models without compromising performance, potentially shrinking complex AI models used to analyze satellite data by at least 45 percent.
To validate their approach, the researchers will first test the new algorithms on the ground. They will use a small, space-grade GPU and then integrate the algorithms into drones equipped with multiple payloads. These “flying labs” will allow the team to refine the technology before deploying it in space.
The future of spacecraft operations heavily relies on advanced, smaller, and smarter AI algorithms. These advancements will enhance space missions, from monitoring climate change to exploring distant planets. This ambitious project is part of a broader £33 million investment by the UK government to strengthen the nation’s space industry.
“These new projects will help kickstart growth, create more high-quality jobs, protect our planet, and preserve the space environment for future generations. They go to the heart of what we want to achieve as a national space agency that supports cutting-edge innovation, spreads opportunity across the UK, and delivers the benefits of space back to citizens on Earth,” said Dr. Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency.