JULY- 2020AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM19AI Transforming Space and Global IndustriesBy Josephine Millward, Head of Research, Seraphim CapitalSeraphim Capital is a specialist venture fund financing the growth of startups in space. In recent years, a significant increase in private investments and robust government support in space are fueling innovations and a robust ecosystem. Looking ahead, we believe the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with other innovations is one of the most disruptive technology trends. AI is transforming not just the space industry but is also revolutionizing global enterprises and government operations. Even the Pentagon has declared AI a national priority and is seeking partnerships with tech giants and startups to accelerate AI adoption across all operations. However, Geospatial AI analytics remain a nascent market and continue to face the challenge of inadequate training data and it requires humans in the loop with domain expertise to solve complex problems and improve accuracy. Drowning in Data, But This is Just the Tip of the IcebergUntil recently, space was dominated by governments using large and expensive exquisite satellites. But now the satellite industry has significantly lower barriers to entry with the onset of the small sat revolution which is driving an explosion of new data with higher resolution. In addition, growing drone fleets, Internet of Things (IoTs) and new sensors are collecting ever more data of the earth that it has become humanly impossible to manage, let alone analyze. With close to 1,500 new earth observation (EO) satellites expected to be launched in the coming decade, the explosion of data we are currently experiencing is just the beginning. This is in addition to the 300 plus small sats already launched by startups like Planet and Spire over the last ten years. New Sensors are Driving Even More Data and New ApplicationsNew sensors such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Hyperspectral, Infrared, Automated Identification System (AIS), and Radio Frequency (RF) Sensing are delivering new data sets to complement traditional optical imagery, enabling better decisions and new applications through advanced analytics. SAR, unlike optical, can capture imagery in all weather conditions, at night and through clouds. SAR startups include ICEYE, Capella, and Umbra Lab. Hyperspectral imaging can be used to find objects and identify materials with applications in oil and gas, mining, and agriculture. Startups building hyperspectral constellations are Satellogic, NorthStar Earth & Space and HyperSat. Infrared (IR) or thermal imaging is complementary to other sensors; SatelliteVU, ConstelIr and Koolock are building an IR constellation for weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and defense applications. Next, automated identification system (AIS), one of the payloads on Spire, also provides weather and aircraft tracking data, allows tracking of global maritime vessels enabling security, logistics, fleet management, and environmental monitoring applications. RF Sensing startups HawkEye 360 and Kleos identify and geo-CXO Insights
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