Spiral Blue brings space-based AI to Australians

Sydney-based Spiral Blue has announced what it says is a major breakthrough in the field of space-based Earth observation (EO). The company has released operational data from successfully running proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms in space.

In April 2023 Spiral Blue became the first Australian company to successfully operate a Space Edge Computer. Following the successful commissioning, Spiral Blue is bringing enhanced EO capabilities to a growing list of international customers.

The Space Edge One (SE-1) computer designed and launched by Spiral Blue is built to withstand the harsh conditions of space, whilst enabling the use of state-of-the-art AI algorithms. This enables near real-time analysis and decision-making based on the vast amount of EO data collected during space missions.

Since the successful commissioning of SE-1 in April 2023, the computer has been operating flawlessly in space, demonstrating the ability to process complex tasks and facilitate swift decision-making. The AI algorithms running on these computers have proven to be invaluable in optimizing Earth observation missions, improving the accuracy of data analysis, and providing timely insights for various applications, including cloud detect.

“This is a huge step forward for Spiral Blue and for the global Earth observation ecosystem,” said Taofiq Huq, CEO of Spiral Blue. “Now that we’ve completed our commissioning, we’re ready to help our customers test their software in orbit.”

Spiral Blue technology has applications in defence, city planning, utilities, and other industries. Founded in 2018, the company has previously launched three Space Edge Zero prototypes, and is a member of the Wolfpack Space Hub.

The current mission was partly supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Commercialisation grant.