Smart Orbits: Advancing AI for Space Exploration and Space Plasmas

Following the success of our first workshop, the ASAP (Automatics in Space Exploration) project invites you to our second workshop, dedicated to the next frontier of space technology: onboard Artificial Intelligence. As space missions venture farther and generate unprecedented volumes of data, the ability to process information and make decisions in real-time, directly on the spacecraft, is no longer a luxury but a necessity. This workshop will convene leaders from academia and industry to explore the innovations, challenges, and opportunities in creating truly autonomous systems for space.

The project has already made significant strides in laying the groundwork for robust, space-qualified AI, including the development of ML algorithms for in-situ analysis of Velocity Distribution Functions (VDFs), solar imagery, and Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) prediction concurrent with the setup of FPGA-based hardware testbeds.

We are seeking contributions that address the full spectrum of on-board AI, from foundational technologies to mission-ready applications. Key themes include:

• Hardware for In-Space AI Acceleration: Exploring the design and implementation of power-efficient and radiation-tolerant hardware. This includes the use of FPGAs tailored for the harsh environment of space.
• AI for Predictive Space Weather Science: Presentations on the development and application of machine learning models for forecasting space weather events. 
• On-Board Data Analysis and Clustering: Showcasing ML techniques for the autonomous, in-situ analysis of scientific data. This can include clustering methodologies for particle velocity distribution analysis, selective data downlink triggers, and real-time analysis of solar imagery.
• Software Frameworks and Virtual Validation: Use of advanced "digital twin" flight simulators that allow for the robust validation of AI algorithms in a virtual environment before deployment.