The strategic collaboration enables efficient satellite operations with autonomous cloud removal, data compression, and real-time feature detection. This opens new revenue streams in Earth Observation and defence by leveraging SPACE:AI.
- Partnership integrates Ubotica’s SPACE:AI processing solutions across NanoAvionics satellite platforms as an optional feature for Earth Observation missions.
- Sets a new shift in satellite technology toward mainstream smarter, more autonomous satellite missions driven by edge AI.
- This positions Kongsberg NanoAvionics as the first large-scale satellite manufacturer to offer SPACE:AI processing as a standard solution.
With SPACE:AI integrated into NanoAvionics’ satellite bus, customers of NanoAvionics can now leverage in-orbit Edge-AI processing to transform the economics and real-time capabilities of Earth Observation. This plug-and-play approach allows for flexible deployment of SPACE:AI features, such as ship detection, oil slick monitoring, and other critical insights that can be uploaded in response to new business cases. This ability to deliver mission-critical insights in near real-time supports critical, time-sensitive decisions, making SPACE:AI a unique asset in sectors requiring low-latency insights, including government, defence, and emergency response.
“At Ubotica, we are dedicated to transforming real-time satellite data processing with SPACE:AI for more efficient Earth Observations, and our partnership with Kongsberg NanoAvionics is a major step toward making this technology more accessible to operators,” said Matti Ekdahl, Global Sales Director at Ubotica. “With SPACE:AI on NanoAvionics’ platforms, users gain the flexibility to deploy mission-critical applications at any point in the satellite’s lifespan, enabling them to respond dynamically to emerging needs and deliver high-value insights in near real-time.”
A key SPACE:AI application is CogniSAT-CRC, which addresses the common challenge of cloud coverage in satellite imaging. CogniSAT-CRC autonomously removes clouds and compresses data in orbit, ensuring only high-quality images reach ground stations. This capability reduces downlink expenses by up to 85% and enables users to act quickly on critical insights, making SPACE:AI ideal for time-sensitive applications in sectors like defence and emergency response.
NanoAvionics, a prime global supplier of small satellite platforms, is a leader in catering EO missions. With nearly 20 EO customers relying on its platforms, NanoAvionics has flown a wide range of commercially available imagers, showcasing the team’s expertise in the domain. This integration of SPACE:AI positions NanoAvionics as the first large-scale satellite manufacturer to offer edge AI as a standard feature. This sets new standards for satellite technology, maximising mission longevity, reliability, and ROI across commercial, institutional, and governmental partnerships.
“At NanoAvionics, our top priority in product development is maximising our customers’ return on investment by delivering reliable, cutting-edge satellite platforms tailored to their mission needs. The integration of Ubotica’s in-orbit processing capabilities is well aligned with this commitment, offering enhanced operational efficiency, cost savings, and real-time insights that drive value. This imager-agnostic feature is designed to elevate Earth Observation applications for both current and future customers, equipping them with the tools to make faster and more effective data-driven decisions,” commented Arnoldas Peciukevicius, Director of Product and Mission Development at NanoAvionics.
Known for partnerships with NASA JPL, ESA, IBM, and Thales Alenia Space, as well as having 9 active missions on-orbit, Ubotica specialises in autonomous AI solutions for satellites that deliver real-time insights and high operational efficiency in space that transforms EO. This collaboration marks a pivotal shift toward mainstream smarter, more autonomous satellite missions driven by edge AI. Together, both companies are setting new standards for small satellite performance in the rapidly evolving NewSpace economy.
Ubotica’s SPACE:AI solutions feature a flexible ‘pay-as-you-go’ pricing model, lowering the initial costs of advanced AI technology and distributing expenses across the satellite’s lifespan.
Images shown above credit: NanoAvionics