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Satellites Spotting Aircraft

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Umbra Space, a 9-year-old company, operates a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite fleet that provides high-resolution imaging for spotting objects such as aircraft, even under camouflage or adverse weather conditions. They have an open data programme which offers free SAR imagery, which would otherwise cost millions. Mark Litwintschik demonstrates the use of a deep learning model SARDet-100K and a framework MSFA to detect aircraft in SAR images, highlighting challenges and potential for further research.

  • Umbra's SAR can see through clouds, rain, and camouflage.
  • SpaceX launched Umbra's first satellite in 2021.
  • SAR captures images day or night.
  • Umbra's open data programme shares 500+ locations.
  • SARDet-100K focuses on detecting objects in SAR.