Space-related applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning are often confined to the ground because moving AI onboard satellites, while promising, is significantly more difficult.
“Running AI in space is like running a marathon on the moon — impressive if achieved, but limited by the environment,” said Sylvester Kaczmarek, chief technology officer at OrbiSky Systems, a London startup focused on AI edge operations.
Advanced processors are power hungry, meaning satellites with onboard AI require large solar panels and extra batteries.
Plus, “radiation in space can fry electronics,” Kaczmarek said.
Power management is another problem. Many AI devices require very high currents at low voltages.
“The demands that AI devices place on power management are new to the space industry,” said Bert Vermeire, Voyager Space chief technology officer. “There are no good solutions with space heritage and it is difficult to identify efficient and small form factor power and management parts that can supply power to the AI devices” in space.
Software must be modified to run on satellites as well.
“Space missions demand AI techniques that can crunch data with limited power and memory,” Kaczmarek said.
Simply put, “Space loves AI, but AI doesn’t seem to love space,” Ralph Grundler, Aitech Systems director of space business development, said in February at the SmallSat Symposium in Mountain View, California. “The electronic companies producing these AI chips haven’t really taken space into account.”
AI-optimized chips are not designed for electronics that “may have to sit on the launch pad in Florida in 100-degree weather for two or three weeks and still work when it gets up to zero atmosphere and minus 40 degrees,” Grundler said.
Upgraded brains
Still for certain missions, the potential benefits of onboard AI are too impressive to ignore.
Instead of downlinking enormous ocean…
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