SONATE-2, a nanosatellite developed by JMU, is scheduled for launch in March 2024 to check unique AI technologies and other sophisticated systems in space. Handled from JMUs Mission Control Centre, it aims to improve self-governing area exploration abilities, with considerable student involvement in its development and operation.
SONATE-2, a nanosatellite developed by JMU Würzburg, is slated for a March 2024 launch to check AI innovations in area.
After more than two years of advancement, the nanosatellite SONATE-2 will be introduced. The lift-off into orbit by a rocket is expected in March 2024. The satellite was created and constructed by a group led by aerospace engineer Professor Hakan Kayal from Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany.
JMU has been developing small satellite missions for around twenty years. SONATE-2 now marks another high point.
The Würzburg SONATE-2 satellite is about the size of a shoebox. Kayals group desires to test whether such situations can be recognized in principle on SONATE-2 using freshly established procedures and approaches, at first in Earth orbit. On board SONATE-2 are other little satellite innovations that are to be checked in orbit. If the job continues to go according to strategy, SONATE-2 will release into orbit on a SpaceX rocket from the west coast of the USA in March 2024. Trainees can also continue to work on the satellite mission: During the functional phase, the control center is continuously carrying out and evaluating brand-new software on SONATE-2.
The satellite will evaluate unique artificial intelligence (AI) hardware and software application innovations in near-Earth space. The objective is to use it to automatically identify anomalies on worlds or asteroids in the future. The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs is moneying the task with 2.6 million euros.
A design of the SONATE-2 nanosatellite, here creatively portrayed in orbit. Credit: Hakan Kayal/ University of Würzburg
Training the AI on Board the Satellite
Equivalent tasks are rare, states Hakan Kayal: “What is special about our mission is that the AI is trained on board. Generally, this training is done in the world with effective computers. This strategy does not fit the plans the JMU professor has in mind.
Kayal provides an example: “Lets presume that a little satellite is to examine a new asteroid in the solar system in the future. It can not be trained for this job on the ground, since the object of investigation is mainly unknown. There is no training data, so the measurements and recordings need to be made on the ground.”
Sending this data to Earth initially and then training the AI by remote control would take a long period of time for objectives far from Earth. A greater level of autonomy supported by AI straight on board would be more effective. It would result in interesting things and phenomena on the asteroid being found much more rapidly.
The Würzburg SONATE-2 satellite is about the size of a shoebox. Its photovoltaic panels are folded out here. Credit: Robert Emmerich/ University of Würzburg
SONATE-2 Tests Many Other Technologies
Kayals group desires to test whether such scenarios can be realized in concept on SONATE-2 using recently developed procedures and methods, at first in Earth orbit. Four cams on board provide the images required for the training: The AI initially learns more about traditional geometric patterns on the Earths surface area among other things. This understanding then assists it to find anomalies by itself.
On board SONATE-2 are other small satellite innovations that are to be tested in orbit. Among them are a system for the automated detection and recording of lightning in addition to an electric propulsion system, which was established in cooperation with the University of Stuttgart. “In regards to complexity, SONATE-2 is exceptional amongst nanosatellites,” says Kayal.
A lot of technology for interacting with the satellite: the Mission Control Centre on the Hubland Campus of the University of Würzburg Credit: Robert Emmerich/ University of Würzburg.
Objective Control Center on the University Campus
SONATE-2 will introduce into orbit on a SpaceX rocket from the west coast of the USA in March 2024 if the job continues to go according to strategy. In recent weeks, the satellite has actually shown that it can endure the extreme conditions of an area objective throughout various endurance tests. In a launch simulation, for example, all screws, soldered joints, and glued connections endured the enormous mechanical stresses of a rocket launch.
SONATE-2 is a so-called 6U+ cubesat model. It has to do with the size of a shoebox and has a mass of around 12 kilograms.
After the launch, interaction with the satellite will take place from Würzburg Just like the previous SONATE design, this satellite will be operated by the Mission Control Centre on the Hubland campus. The team is going for an operating time of one year. “However, we hope that the satellite will work longer,” states Kayal.
Hakan Kayal, Professor of Astronautics, in the Satellite Mission Control Centre at the University of Würzburg. Credit: Robert Emmerich/ University of Würzburg.
Satellite Project Offers Working Field for Students
A group of six individuals dealt with the advancement of the ground and the satellite systems; the job leader is Dr. Oleksii Balagurin. In addition, many trainees were included, for example as research assistants or as part of their last theses. Trainees can likewise continue to work on the satellite mission: During the operational stage, the nerve center is continuously carrying out and testing brand-new software application on SONATE-2.
