Intuition-1 Celebrates Its First Year of Delivering Orbital Data

Developed by KP Labs, Intuition-1 is a demonstration satellite that provides hyperspectral imaging of Earth and processes data directly in space. Equipped with the Leopard DPU—designed by the Poland-based company—the satellite autonomously processes data in orbit using machine learning and AI algorithms. The Leopard DPU can perform up to three trillion operations per second, significantly accelerating the data analysis process. 

Unlike conventional RGB imaging, which uses three broad bands (red, green, and blue), the hyperspectral imaging system aboard Intuition-1 captures information across the electromagnetic spectrum, dividing it into numerous narrow spectral bands. The Polish satellite’s sensor covers 192 such bands, including those invisible to the human eye. This breadth of data enables precise identification and analysis of various substances, vegetation types, minerals, and other materials on Earth’s surface. 

Over the past year, Intuition-1 has successfully performed a series of operations, confirming the effectiveness of its systems and in-orbit data processing. The satellite captured images of regions such as Poland, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Utah Lake in the USA, where the imaging revealed details of vegetation density. In real-time, the Leopard DPU detected cloud presence, conducted urban analysis, assessed green areas, and displayed terrain features. This approach ensured that only processed information was transmitted to Earth, streamlining analysis and accelerating data delivery. 

Intuition-1 is not the only KP Labs project leveraging AI and onboard data processing algorithms. Similar solutions are already being used in the Phi-Sat-2 mission, which focuses on autonomous Earth observation data processing. The data processing technology from Intuition-1 will be further advanced in the upcoming M-Argo mission by the European Space Agency, set to study an asteroid. In the M-Argo mission, the Leopard DPU will allow direct data analysis on the probe, accelerating the identification of asteroid surface features and materials. In the Phi-Sat-2 project, the system supports rapid identification of environmental hazards, such as natural disasters and pollution. Additionally, as part of the Polish Mission to the ISS, the Leopard DPU, developed by KP Labs, will be included onboard the ISS as a test module for researchers, entrepreneurs, and students worldwide. 

More information about Intuition-1 and other KP Labs projects can be found on: https://kplabs.space/