Exobotics will design, manufacture, and test a CubeSat satellite platform with a hyperspectral imaging payload to allow GenMat to canvas the natural environment anywhere on the planet.
The satellite, built to identify rich areas of resources and mineralisation zones in previously under-utilised locations, will form the first of GenMat’s constellations, which they said could reach up to 600 satellites to cover every inch of the Earth.
In a statement, Nadeem Gabbani, founder of Exobotics, said: “Space data has a variety of under-explored applications which can greatly benefit industries such as mining, and we are excited to break down the barriers to entry to space for our customers in order to help them launch innovative solutions to macro issues.
“A key barrier for businesses outside of the industry is the length of time required to get into space. This project is being carried out through our fast-track programme which will help GenMat to go from concept to launch in under 12 months, providing fast access to space.”
GenMat will apply their machine learning and AI algorithms to the space data collected by the satellite in order to provide customers in the mining and agricultural industries with high-precision prospecting information of a target site for advanced materials.
The hyperspectral imager, produced by Simera Sense, will be capable of high-resolution imaging at under 5m per pixel in the 450nm to 900nm range, with a payload support system to enable imaging with high-speed radios in S, and X bands.
Furthermore, the technology is expected to lay the groundwork for the quantum sensing space roadmap.
Exobotics will oversee the end-to-end production of the nano-satellite platform in their London engineering labs, which is set to launch later this year aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Deep Prasad, founder & CEO of GenMat, said: “GenMat is developing products that are vitally important for creating sustainable technology infrastructures, both on Earth, and in space exploration. While we are building an AI that informs the production of advanced materials such as semiconductors, we also believe in the significance that our sensors play for the next generation of advancements in the agricultural, mining and defence sectors.”
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