Machine Learning & AI Services

Available at Space Park Leicester

Mission-Ready AI for Space — Designed, Tested and Deployed with Confidence

REALM (Rapid information Extraction for Environmental remote sensing through Light Machine learning) is Space Park Leicester’s end-to-end Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence service for space applications.

Contact our team at innovate@space-park.co.uk to discuss your project requirements and receive a personalised quote.

Why REALM?

We help organisations design, validate and deploy high-performance AI in orbit — overcoming the three biggest challenges of space-based machine learning:

Limited training data
Constrained onboard hardware
The need for absolute reliability

By combining advanced algorithm optimisation, synthetic data generation and low-cost real-world demonstration, REALM dramatically reduces development risk, cost and time-to-deployment.

REALM delivers mission-ready AI, faster.

Traditional AI development struggles in space environments. REALM was built specifically to solve that.

With REALM, partners can:

Deploy powerful AI on constrained spacecraft hardware
Train robust models even when real data is scarce
Validate performance before launch — at a fraction of traditional cost
De-risk missions and accelerate commercialisation

This is AI designed for the realities of space.

End-to-End Services

REALM supports the full machine learning lifecycle — from early concept through to in-orbit operation.

Algorithm Design & Optimisation

- Custom AI and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) development
- Novel optimisation techniques reducing model size by over 50% without loss of performance
- Designed specifically for efficient onboard execution

Advanced Training Data Creation

We build large-scale, high-quality training datasets using:

Real-world sources

Earth Observation datasets
Custom drone and aircraft data capture
Visible, multi/hyperspectral, LiDAR and infrared formats

Synthetic data at scale

Multi-spectral Earth Observation data in collaboration with atmospheric chemistry experts GRASP
In-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) scenarios
Physically and scientifically accurate environments

Cost-Effective Demonstration & Validation

In-house drone laboratory with bespoke onboard GPUs
Near real-time performance validation
Aircraft-based demonstrations available for larger-scale testing

Performance Assessment & Mission Optimisation

Critical evaluation of algorithm outputs
Optimisation for mission impact, efficiency and return on investment
Expert guidance to maximise operational value

Facilities & Technology

REALM is underpinned by a powerful combination of hardware, software and test environments:

Drone-optimised GPU systems with real-time control
Access to aircraft demonstration platforms
Synthetic data generation environments
On-premise and cloud high-performance computing
Space GPU test hardware (in development)

All hosted within the Space Park Leicester ecosystem.

Equipment

Drone optimised GPU computers with ground-based control system optimised for near real-time validation
Relationships with aircraft providers enabling low-cost aircraft demonstrations
Synthetic data generation software environment
On prem and cloud-based high-performance computing for algorithm design, training and validation
Space GPU with supporting test hardware (in-development)

Proven Capability. World-Leading Expertise.

REALM was established through £680,000 of UK Space Agency funding, bringing together a unique interdisciplinary team across:

Space systems engineering
Machine learning & AI
Earth observation science
Robotics and drone technologies

The programme is led by Professor Tanya Vladimirova, a global authority in machine learning for space systems, supported by a team of experienced researchers, engineers and innovators from Space Park Leicester.

Together, the REALM team delivers a complete pipeline — from algorithm design to in-space deployment.

Learn More & Work With Us

REALM research has been presented at the International Astronautical Federation Earth Observation Symposium (2025), demonstrating cutting-edge advances in space-based AI.

📄 Conference paper: https://doi.org/10.52202/083081-0024

Start your AI mission with REALM

Whether you’re developing next-generation Earth observation, autonomous spacecraft systems or in-orbit servicing technologies, REALM helps turn AI ambition into flight-ready capability.

Contact our team at innovate@space-park.co.uk to discuss your project requirements.

Why Choose Space Park Leicester?

Space Park Leicester, part of the University of Leicester, is a centre for space innovation, bringing together experts, researchers, and cutting-edge resources through its world-class facilities. We proudly support the space industry, research organisations, SMEs, and educational institutions.

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