CRC stands for Cloud Removal & Compression, and it is designed to save on downlink costs by optimising the image assets on the satellite. Basically, it combines AI processing – a neural network-based Cloud Detection and Removal algorithm – with lossless image compression, so that only useful images are transmitted to the ground station, efficiently as possible.
It can result, says Ubotica, in a six-fold increase in the number of useful images which can be transmitted to the ground station each day to increase the revenue-generating potential of the assets.
“With an average of 50% cloud coverage across the Earth, it is a huge waste of valuable downlink budget to send cloudy images down to ground stations,” said John Doody, Ubotica’s vp of product. “Ubotica developed CogniSAT-CRC to address this opportunity for satellite operators to significantly increase the operational efficiency of their space assets. Our analysis shows satellites designed using CogniSAT-CRC can reduce downlink costs by up to 80%.”
The technology has already used in multiple space projects involving NASA JPL and the European Space Agency – other products from the Dublin-based company include CogniSAT-XE1 and CogniSAT-XE2.
See also: CogniSat-6 AI-centric CubeSat to boost image optimisation