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:

Develop new machine learning algorithms
Optimise performance for use on low power autonomous systems
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
Deploy powerful AI on constrained spacecraft hardware.

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 and 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 and Validation

In-house drone laboratory with bespoke onboard GPUs
Near real-time performance validation
Aircraft-based demonstrations available for larger-scale testing
Critical evaluation of algorithm outputs
Optimisation for mission impact, efficiency and return on investment
Expert guidance to maximise operational value

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 premises 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.

Iain Hughes, Head of the National Space Innovation programme at the UK Space Agency, said:

“REALM is an excellent example of how UK expertise is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. By making artificial intelligence more accessible and cost-effective for space missions, the team at Space Park Leicester is helping to ensure British innovation remains at the forefront of the global space sector. This work has real potential to transform how we monitor our planet and respond to environmental challenges, from tracking traffic to detecting wildfires before they spread.”

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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