Artificial Intelligence in space: Scientists get 1.1M to help local areas in UK recover from impact of COVID-19 – Silicon Canals

While we are getting through the coronavirus, its repercussions on the economy are bound to linger for some time. The UK governments Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (MHCLG) has taken this into account to announce new funding for jump starting projects. These projects are aimed at helping recover local areas from the impact of COVID-19. Under the funding, 59M (65.6 million) of projects across Cornwall will share 14.3M (15.9 million) of Getting Building Fund investment, supporting 1,100 jobs.

One of the notable funding from MHCLGs new funding goes to the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station. It has been awarded 996,817 (1.1M) from the Governments Getting Building Fund for its new Cornwall Institute for Space AI and Receiver Factory. Goonhilly will also be working with the University of Manchester, University of Oxford, University of Leeds and University of Hertfordshire.

A space AI institute and receiver factory at Goonhilly Earth Station. A 3.77m project led by Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd will involve commercial operators across sectors including space, data science, and high-performance computers as well as a consortium of leading universities to progress innovation in space-related artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, machine learning and advanced manufacturing. The investment will lead to manufacturing and specialist test facilities at Goonhilly for deep space, radio astronomy, and space telecommunication receivers for new and existing markets across the UK and internationally, the official release states.

Located on Goonhilly Downs near Helston on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, England, the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station is a radiocommunication site. Goonhilly will feature a space for companies that can use the facilities and work with the team on various ideas. One of such ideas is delving into different fields of study such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and radio astronomy, which are interconnected. The team will develop algorithms in one field and apply it to solve problems across other fields as well.

The new Receiver Factory acts as an advanced manufacturing facility that can be used to develop Goonhillys own equipment. This in-house manufacturing helps ensure its services are up to the quality it holds, and also to build products to print for third parties. The scientists working at Goonhilly contribute their knowledge of antenna design, space communications, electronics, software and mechanical engineering to develop advanced products for space communication and other related sectors.

Ian Jones, Chief Executive of Goonhilly Earth Station, says, The Getting Building Fund will support a unique opportunity to bring together the important existing telecommunications assets at Goonhilly alongside investment in state-of-the-art testing and manufacturing. This is an important move forward in Cornwalls space journey developing new capabilities in invention, build and production for a growing global market. This will establish Goonhilly as the premier UK site for satellite receiver manufacture combined with innovation in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Image credits: Goonhilly Earth Station on Twitter

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Artificial Intelligence in space: Scientists get 1.1M to help local areas in UK recover from impact of COVID-19 - Silicon Canals