Space technology company Ubotica has showcased a significant achievement in the Earth observation industry. The company's satellite CogniSAT-6, which is capable of independently identifying ships and planning for their re-observation, captured an image of a cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean during a demonstration in October 2023.
Automatic Identification and Re-Planning
Using onboard artificial intelligence, CogniSAT-6 identified the ship's location and calculated the appropriate time for re-observation. This process was carried out entirely without the intervention of ground controllers, and a second image two days later confirmed that the ship had moved from its location.
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Development of Maritime Monitoring Technology
This 6U CubeSat, built and operated by Open Cosmos, is set to be launched into space by a SpaceX rocket in March 2024. David Rylarsdam, Ubotica's Space Systems Engineering Manager, stated, "Automated planning allows satellites to interpret what they see and decide what actions to take." The company aims to connect multiple satellites to enable the identification of suspicious maritime activities and the autonomous guidance of a spacecraft towards them.
This achievement is seen as a preliminary step in the field of automated ship monitoring and maritime activities, although it does not mean continuous tracking of ships. Nevertheless, this capability represents future advancements in monitoring shadow fleets, dark ships, and threats to maritime infrastructure.
Ubotica also announced in June that it has secured $11 million to accelerate the delivery of its Live Maritime Intelligence platform. This platform aims to provide faster monitoring services to governments and maritime authorities for overseeing vast ocean areas.
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