AI and Computer Vision
Edge Computing Platform Specifications

The power of EdgeAI brought to cubesats

CogniSatTM AI and Computer Vision Payload Processing Board Specifications

The power of Myriad 2
brought to cubesats

The Ubotica CogniSAT-XE1TM CubeSat Board brings the power of Edge CV and AI compute acceleration to a PC/104 form-factor for smallsat and cubesat missions. It is built around the Intel® Movidius™ Myriad™ 2 Computer Vision (CV) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) COTS VPU whose 12 vector cores provide high-performance parallel and hardware accelerated compute within a low power envelope.

Widely Adaptable for AI and
Computer Vision Deployments

Flexible and Integration Ready

CogniSAT-XE1 combines the power efficient compute of the Myriad 2 VPU with a wide range of interfaces and peripherals, providing broad flexibility for integration into satellite platforms. Either Gigabit Ethernet or USB2.0/3.0 can be used as the primary control and data interface to the board, enabling data rates sufficient to handle many CV and AI applications at near-streaming throughput.

Efficient Neural Network Inference

Common NN frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Caffe) can be used for NN model development and training, with the model subsequently targeted to CogniSAT-XE1. CogniSAT-XE1 leverages the broad range of pre-qualified models and layers available within Intel®’s OpenVINO™ toolkit. Pre-trained OpenVINO™ models can be used with transfer learning, or can be deployed directly on CogniSAT-XE1 board, via the Ubotica CogniSAT-HCS™ software.

Customisable CV and ISP Pipelines

Custom Computer Vision pipelines can easily be deployed and executed on CogniSat using the CogniSAT-TK™ software. The software supports application-specific CV and ISP pipelines that utilise a combination of the power-efficient Myriad 2 streaming hardware blocks and software filters implemented on the vector engines. Deployment to CogniSAT-XE1 involves the transfer of only a single configuration file, and runtime updates enable the updating of pipelines without requiring application re-compile or system reboot.

Dual Operational Modes

In Direct Mode, a master host communicates with the CogniSAT-XE1 to load CV and NN models to the processor, and to thereafter submit image frames to the board and receive processing results. The host can dynamically update the CogniSAT-HCS application over the primary interface, enabling flexible runtime solutions. In Custom Mode, frames from a directly connected sensor can be captured, processed and inferenced.

Key Features

CogniSAT-XE1 has the following features:

  • Part of the CogniSAT Edge Computing Platform
  • PC/104 form factor
  • Flight Proven – Technology Readiness Level – TRL9
  • On-board integrated latch-up protection, with auto-restart and trip signal
  • Single 5V supply
  • CAN interface for C&C
  • Direct operation mode → CV and AI engine as a slave over USB 2.0/3.0 or Ethernet
  • Custom operation mode → CV and AI for directly interfaced sensors, control over SPI, CAN, USB or Ethernet
  • All COTS components: Selected based on flight heritage and prior rad test results
  • Integrated Neural Network Supervisor
  • Serial NOR boot flash
  • External power-down control
  • Targets sub 5W power envelope and incorporates power gating
  • Parallel and MIPI camera interfaces for direct sensor connection†
  • microSD card for non-volatile data storage
  • Additional on-board peripherals
    • Floating Gate Dosimeter for radiation sensing
    • IMU (3D accelerometer and gyroscope)
  • Stackable 2x dual row board-edge headers for power delivery and low-level control
  • Fully compatible with the Ubotica CogniSAT-TK Software, for complete control over CV and AI processing

CogniSAT-TKTM Software Development Kit

Ubotica’s CogniSAT-TK is a lightweight library for developers to bring the power of Myriad’s Computer Vision (CV) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute acceleration to their in-orbit applications.

The full feature set of the Myriad Vision Processing Unit (VPU) is exposed to facilitate the rapid development and deployment of applications to process data on-board satellite in a fast, power efficient manner.

Key Features:

  • Fully compatible with Myriad Neural Networks developed for Intel’s OpenVINO platform.
  • Runtime configuration of Myriad’s Hardware and Software CV filters for Image Transformations.
  • Integrated Neural Network Supervisor
  • Optimised for environments with a single Myriad VPU
  • Supports both USB and Ethernet connectivity
  • APIs for C/C++ and Python programming languages
Interfaces
Ethernet10/100/1000BaseT
USB2.0/3.0
CANSupporting CSP
SPIMaster/slave, 3.3V logic
I2C3.3V logic
UART3.3V logic
GPIOx5, 3.3V logic
JTAGDebug
MIPI4-lane CSI-2 camera I/F
CIF16-lane parallel camera I/F
Size, Weight & Power
Nominal Power Consumption2W (typical CV & NN example)
Mass80g
Length94mm (98mm incl. connectors)
Width90mm (99mm incl. connectors)
Height (max)15mm