Intuition-1 marks one year of delivering advanced orbital insights
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Nov 12, 2024
On November 11, 2024, the Polish satellite Intuition-1 celebrated its first year in orbit, completing 5,490 revolutions around Earth and continuously delivering crucial data processed using its advanced AI-driven Leopard Data Processing Unit (DPU). This onboard system, developed by KP Labs, enhances resource analysis and processing efficiency through machine learning.
Intuition-1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite designed as a demonstration model to showcase in-orbit data processing. Its Leopard DPU, built by KP Labs in Poland, processes data directly in space, capable of executing up to three trillion operations per second. This real-time processing power allows for swift data analysis, distinguishing Intuition-1 from traditional imaging systems that rely on data transmission to Earth for processing.
The satellite’s imaging capabilities extend beyond typical RGB sensors, capturing 192 narrow spectral bands across the electromagnetic spectrum, including those undetectable by the human eye. This enables highly detailed analyses of Earth’s surface, supporting applications such as material identification and vegetation monitoring.
Over its first operational year, Intuition-1 confirmed the efficiency of its technology by capturing images of varied global locations, including Poland, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Utah Lake in the USA. The satellite autonomously conducted assessments such as cloud detection, urban analysis, and vegetation mapping. This pre-processed data transmission approach improves the speed and efficiency of ground analysis.
“Intuition-1 has not only operated continuously for a year but also demonstrated the potential of direct on-orbit data processing. This is an impressive example of autonomous data handling and hyperspectral imaging in space. Over the past year, we have gained valuable hands-on experience and knowledge that will benefit our future projects,” the statement highlighted.
KP Labs continues to apply its data processing expertise in additional projects, such as the Phi-Sat-2 mission, which uses AI for real-time environmental hazard monitoring, including natural disaster and pollution detection. Looking ahead, the Leopard DPU is set to play a significant role in the European Space Agency’s M-Argo mission, tasked with studying asteroid surfaces. The unit’s rapid analysis capabilities will enhance identification processes directly onboard the probe. Additionally, the Leopard DPU will be tested as part of a Polish Mission to the ISS, enabling researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to leverage its technology for various experiments.
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