How AI-Equipped CubeSats Are Outsmarting Wildfires

Cube satellites with AI are revolutionizing bushfire detection in Australia by processing imagery from space quickly and efficiently. The technology is set to be operational by 2025 and may be commercialized to enhance early fire and disaster response.

Australian scientists are getting closer to detecting bushfires in record time, thanks to cube satellites with onboard AI. They’re now able to detect fires from space 500 times faster than traditional on-ground processing of imagery.

Remote sensing and computer science researchers have overcome the limitations of processing and compressing large amounts of hyperspectral imagery on board the smaller, more cost-effective cube satellites before sending it to the ground for analysis, saving precious time and energy.