A Chinese technology company has applied artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the efficiency and reliability of spacecraft control by developing a specialized large language model (LLM) for the space sector.
CasTianta Tech Co, an enterprise engaged in the research and industrialization of products related to commercial satellite control, unveiled the LLM, Huashan, on Friday at the China Satellite Application Conference hosted by the China Communications Institute in Beijing.
Describing the functionality of the LLM, Dong Weihua, CTO of the company, explained that Huashan uses artificial intelligence to assist users in intelligent spacecraft control, orbit calculation and analysis, and command code generation, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of satellites in orbit.
According to Mr. Dong, this model, based on the experience of satellite management, provides a platform for spacecraft management, personnel training and intelligent satellite control through voice and text interaction.
Efficient satellite management is an important link in ensuring the rational use of satellite resources, stable and reliable satellite services, and supporting the further development of satellite technology, Dong said.
Once launched, a satellite transmits huge amounts of data to the ground. However, a single engineer can only manage a limited number of satellites, while the number of satellites in orbit is growing rapidly. The current workforce will not be able to meet this growing demand, Dong explained.
According to statistics from CCID Consulting, the global satellite industry has been growing rapidly since 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 32 percent in the number of satellite launches between 2020 and 2023.
“When traditional methods of operation fail to meet the requirements, the effective use of artificial intelligence becomes necessary to cope with the massive changes in satellite management. This is exactly the vision behind our development of Huashan,” Dong said.
