A small cube reminiscent of dimensions of a jewelry casket at the end of May came to an international cosmic standing. The device that fits on the hand, It contains a computer. A compact data processing unit is waiting for Sławosz Uznański -Wiśniewski – the second in the history of a Pole who will fly into space.
A computer called Leopardiss will serve the Pole to one of 13 experimentswhich will be carried out as part of the Polish Ignis technology and scientific mission. To make this possible, the device needs a specific one innovative software.
– In the space industry we move slowly, carefully. And here suddenly came the news that you just had to do it. And … we did! – says Marek Kraft in an interview with Interia – an assistant professor at the Poznań University of Technology at the Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence*. Over the past months, he has been the team of specialists who created software for a key device for the experiment.
To A group of several scientists related to the Poznań University of Technology, including students. The project took them to perform the project just half a year – From the moment the challenge was accepted to the moment when the initial version of the software was ready for testing.
In their work, the team had to meet the excessive requirements of imposed equipment allowed for implementation at an international space station. We have just become witnessing their success.
Poles bring artificial intelligence into space
Created by Gliwice KP Labs device LeopardISS It is nothing like a traditional desktop computer or laptop. – It has specific properties, draws much less energy. It was created, among others In terms of resistance to high space radiation – explains the expert. Together with the software developed by Marek Kraft's team, the computer will allow you to conduct research on technology based artificial intelligencein the conditions of microgravity. Although the association with chatgpt comes to mind, these algorithms have only a partial relationship with it.
– the tools we use do not belong to the family artificial generative intelligence – explains Marek Kraft. In other words: they do not create new ones, but process the obtained data.
As the specialist indicates, this specific experiment will focus, among others On machine view and use of a computer to start and control something that can be called an autonomous car. – Except that instead of roads, he would drive on the lunar area. And our ultimate goal for the future is a rover mission – says the expert. However, there are many more applications of artificial intelligence in space.
Searching for mineral deposits, tracking ships – what does AI give us in space?
– Earth observation is a more common use of artificial intelligence in space, also implemented by Polish companies. Even the recent InSight Policy report talks about how large the participation of Polish companies in this sector is – emphasizes Kraft. What does it give in practice?
– enables Observation of ecological phenomena, supports agriculture, allows you to monitor natural disasters, look for mineral deposits, as well as track the movements of suspicious units in the waters – lists the expert, explaining that the mechanisms of artificial intelligence are processed by images obtained in space in a way inaccessible to the human eye, even by using infrared or ultraviolet.
Moreover, you can be tempted to say that Space missions teach us savings. The circumstances force scientists to look for ways to reduce energy consumption. This, in turn, can contribute to reducing the costs incurred here on Earth – both financial and environmental.
Ai as a double -edged weapon. Can artificial intelligence in space break out of control?
Thanks to the systems that Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will undergo further tests soon, it will be possible to significantly accelerate data transmission. Simply put, we will not have to wait for the image and other data obtained in space to reach the analysis on earth. New systems will be able to quickly process them on the spotallowing people to use a much broader range of information faster. A – as Kraft points out – Poles are already at this stage They are pioneers in the field.
Although artificial intelligence enters more and more sectors of everyday life, it still remains something difficult to illustrate. And what is foreign often arouses fear. We are not only afraid of fraud using AI. The question is increasingly in society whether artificial intelligence will deprive us of work. And even, Will the human mind overwhelm one day? Therefore, incorporating it into the exploration of space may raise doubts. However, according to Marek Kraft at this stage Fears are definitely premature.
– The biggest threat is not artificial intelligence and its development, but that Someone can consciously use it for bad purposes. For example, there is a recently functioning model for creating movies, which not only at the first, but also at the second and even third at the third glances are extremely realistic. The times at which AI's participation could be recognized by the deformed hands of the characters on the video are over. Artificial intelligence used in space is based on relatively small models. I would not see a threat to them – says the specialist. However, he states that AI, as with the rest of the whole technology, is double -edged weapon. – You can use it to create something good but also bad – he assesses.
Mars exploration. “I believe that someone will stuff the flag there”
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski “believes that as Poland we have a chance to participate in Race to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, a within 20 years man will be able to put a leg on Mars“In an interview with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”, the astronaut emphasized that looking at how quickly space technology is developing, “nobody would dream about it”.
Marek Kraft also sees the chance to go beyond the dream area. Especially in the case of the moon.
– The moon is a real goal for this closer future. Travel time is much shorter than on Mars, there is a possibility of communication without major delays, and in case problems the chance to carry out a rescue mission – he assesses, without crossing out the second of the Polish astronaut's dreams.
– Mars can also be available. Not in the perspective of several years, but in the future, which we can imagine. I think someone will finally clog the flag and it would be good if it was Flag of the Earth or the United Nations – A joint mission, the beginning of cooperation, not another international competition – says Kraft.
A man on Mars. “Without much money it will not work”
There may be a matter on the way to exploration of Mars financing of the expedition. As the President of Mars Society Poland noted in an interview with Interia, Robert Lubański, from the technological side, humanity is ready for thisbut “without much money you will not be able to do it.” In this respect, the eyes of the world are directed at Elona Musk's storage. In March this year, the billionaire reported on the platform X work on a rocket, which would be used to a manned flight to Mars. The owner of Tesla and Spacex assumes that the first people will be able to fly to the red planet in 2029.
However, as Robert Lubański explains, overcoming the financial barrier does not guarantee success yet. Law is also important. – At the moment, the law is not cosmically adapted to explore the cosmos, especially if private companies do it, not government institutions – he emphasizes, adding that it would necessarily be Creating a new international lawregulating these issues.
Pole's flight into space. “The role of our country will only grow”
In further exploration of space, Marek Kraft also sees a place for Poles.
– Not individually, but as part of a larger European initiative. Our country is part of the European Space Agency, our participation in its projects is growing, just like the contribution we pay, which Polish companies can later use. Now Poles have a large share in the organization of many missions And I believe that this role will only grow – he emphasizes.
– We are still working on making this technology more and more advanced and ultimately ready to take off – he summed up.
*The main research areas of the Kraft brand include image processing, computer vision, machine learning, built -in systems and robotics. For several years, he has also been involved in land observation and space robotics, implementing research projects in this area. It is a science manager ESA Phi Lab Poland.