The AIX mission, led by Planetek Italia in collaboration with AIKO and D-Orbit, has reached a major milestone with the launch of AIX-1p aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This marks the first step in a transformative journey to create a revolutionary framework for deploying in-orbit applications, enabled by cutting-edge AI technologies.

As part of this ambitious project, AIKO’s orbital_OLIVER is poised to play a central role in redefining satellite operations, starting with its integration and initial activation during this precursor phase.

orbital_OLIVER's Advanced Role in AIX

As part of this ambitious project, AIKO’s orbital_OLIVER is designed to play a key role in exploring new paradigms of autonomy and onboard decision-making. Throughout the mission, its functionalities will be tested within the broader AIX framework, providing valuable insights for future developments.

In this context, orbital_OLIVER will be tested as an enabler of onboard autonomy, with a focus on system monitoring, telemetry processing, and mission adaptability. By analysing onboard data in real time, orbital_OLIVER is designed to contribute to a more efficient understanding of system status, helping to optimise satellite operations. One of its key objectives is to explore how AI-driven analysis can assist in dynamically adjusting flight plans based on real-time conditions.

Moreover, to ensure timely and optimal delivery of processed data, orbital_OLIVER will:

• Coordinate with third-party applications such as clear_CHARLES, AIKO’s onboard data processing suite for optical payloads, which performs cloud and object detection to evaluate whether imaging conditions are suitable. clear_CHARLES ensures that ship detection tasks are executed only when conditions allow for clear, unobstructed observations.

• Once optimal conditions are identified, orbital_OLIVER will direct the satellite to perform data acquisition and subsequently manage the processing and prioritisation of the collected data.

• By analysing telemetry and environmental factors, orbital_OLIVER will determine the most efficient timing for transmitting processed data to Earth, optimising bandwidth and ensuring that actionable insights are delivered promptly.

This seamless coordination between clear_CHARLES and orbital_OLIVER’s capabilities exemplifies the AIX mission’s vision of smarter, AI-driven satellite operations.

What Lies Ahead: The Tip & Cue and Future Missions

While the first phase focuses on ensuring orbital_OLIVER’s core functions within the satellite avionics, the second mission, scheduled for mid-2025, will expand its capabilities further. Together with clear_CHARLES, orbital_OLIVER will refine its collaborative AI operations, demonstrating enhanced autonomy in complex detection scenarios.

The final mission, in late 2025, will showcase example use cases such as tip&cue technique. This advanced approach combines wide-field-of-view imaging with a camera to detect clouds, and then directs a narrow-field-of-view camera to detect objects. orbital_OLIVER will autonomously manage this process, ensuring precise detection while minimising resource usage. Alongside these tasks, orbital_OLIVER will also oversee the deployment and management of personalised or marketplace applications, further solidifying its role as the operational backbone of the mission.

AIX: A Vision for Space Innovation

The AIX mission, co-funded by the ESA InCubed programme, an Earth Observation Programme managed by  ESA Φ-lab, represents a pioneering hybrid edge/cloud ecosystem for Earth Observation. Planetek Italia leads the project with its SPACEDGE™ app store and orchestration system, while D-Orbit provides the satellite platform and in-orbit infrastructure with their ION satellites. AIKO’s orbital_OLIVER defines the autonomy backbone of the mission, showcasing advanced onboard decision-making capabilities and AI-driven optimisation.

With the successful deployment of AIX-1p, the focus now shifts to activating orbital_OLIVER's functions in orbit. This is the first step toward a future where autonomous satellites, guided by solutions like orbital_OLIVER, unlock new possibilities for accessing and managing space-based resources.

Stay tuned as AIX continues to shape the future of satellite autonomy, setting the stage for innovation in Earth Observation and beyond.

Credits

• Planetek Italia

• D-Orbit

• ESA Φ-lab

• photo credits SpaceX