What Ubotica does

Ubotica Technologies is an Irish space technology company that develops onboard artificial intelligence software and edge-compute hardware for satellites. Founded in 2017 in Dublin by the original team behind Movidius (which Intel acquired in 2016), the company operates from Dublin with engineering centres in Ciudad Real (Spain), Delft (Netherlands), and Canada, and holds registered trademarks for the Ubotica and CogniSAT brands across the EU, UK, and US. Its core product is SPACE:AI, a flight-proven orbital AI platform that has been deployed on 11 satellite missions — including ESA's phi-sat-1 (the world's first hardware-accelerated AI inference on a CubeSat), MANTIS, CogniSAT-6/HAMMER, and NASA JPL's FAME federated autonomous constellation demonstration — achieving a 100% mission success rate and over 300,000 onboard inferences.

The product portfolio spans three layers. At the hardware layer, Ubotica sells the CogniSAT edge-AI family — XE1 and XE2 onboard coprocessors built on Intel Movidius Myriad VPUs, the CRC cloud-removal and compression module (delivering 80% downlink cost reduction and a 6x increase in usable images), and the NEI intelligent non-Earth imaging camera. At the software layer, the SPACE:AI platform runs on Nvidia, Intel, Qualcomm, and Unibap silicon and supports over 30 AI models covering vessel detection, autonomous dynamic targeting, cloud detection, and hyperspectral processing. At the service layer, the company sells the Live Maritime Intelligence (LMI) subscription, a predictive maritime surveillance product that fuses optical, SAR, RF, and AIS data to deliver decision-grade intelligence to government maritime agencies, and the Cognitive Edge industrial anomaly detection system. SPACE:AI is also being licensed through a 2026 partnership with NOVI Space onto the GENIE smart-satellite constellation.

Ubotica commercializes through a direct enterprise and government sales motion. Revenue derives from hardware product sales to satellite integrators, licensing of the SPACE:AI platform to constellation operators, and subscription fees from the LMI service. Distribution is global with a primary emphasis on European institutional buyers, including ESA, government maritime agencies, and large defence and ocean-services primes such as Fugro and Thales. The company is privately held, has raised approximately $15M across a 2022 seed round and a 2026 follow-on, and is led by a co-founding team that has previously built and exited vision-AI and semiconductor businesses.

Name

Ubotica

Legal name

Ubotica Technologies Limited

Website

https://ubotica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ubotica Technologies builds flight-proven onboard AI software and edge-compute hardware for satellites, serving government maritime agencies, defence organizations, and satellite operators through its SPACE:AI platform, CogniSAT hardware family, and Live Maritime Intelligence subscription service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orbital AI / Space Edge Computing

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)

Keywords

• Onboard AI processing
• Edge AI computing
• Satellite AI inference
• Earth observation intelligence
• Maritime surveillance AI

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Live Maritime Intelligence Subscription: Subscription-based predictive surveillance service that delivers decision-grade intelligence for maritime monitoring. Enables governments and maritime agencies to detect threats across exclusive economic zones in real time using orbital AI and autonomous satellite tasking.
2. CogniSAT Hardware Products: Sale of flight-proven edge AI computing platforms (CogniSAT-XE1, XE2, CRC, NEI) for integration into satellites. Hardware includes onboard AI payload coprocessors with varying performance levels for smallsat and CubeSat missions.
3. SPACE:AI Software Platform Licensing: Licensing of SPACE:AI platform for deployment on commercial satellite constellations. Enables real-time AI inference directly from orbit, processing Earth observation data within 90 seconds of acquisition.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ubotica builds Orbital AI software and hardware that runs AI directly on satellites, transforming Earth observation spacecraft from passive data collectors into intelligent agents. Its SPACE:AI platform processes imagery onboard within 90 seconds of acquisition, while the CogniSAT family provides flight-proven onboard AI coprocessors and cameras for satellite integrators. Subscription-based services such as Live Maritime Intelligence deliver decision-grade intelligence to governments and maritime agencies.

Product overview

Ubotica is a space technology company providing Orbital AI — a platform-plus-modules architecture anchored by the SPACE:AI platform, which transforms satellites into intelligent edge compute agents. The product family includes the CogniSAT Edge hardware family (CogniSAT-XE1, CogniSAT-XE2, CogniSAT-CRC, CogniSAT-NEI) delivering flight-proven onboard AI processing on Intel Movidius Myriad VPUs; the Cognitive Edge industrial anomaly detection product; and two operational service layers built on SPACE:AI — Cognitive Earth Observation (the AI orchestration layer) and Live Maritime Intelligence (the maritime surveillance application). Supporting tools include CogniSAT-TK (software development toolkit) and CogniSAT-HCS (host control software). SPACE:AI has been deployed across 11 satellite missions including NASA JPL and ESA programs, with over 300,000 onboard inferences performed. The company also partners with NOVI Space to deploy SPACE:AI on the GENIE smart-satellite constellation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CogniSAT: Flight-proven and power-efficient edge computing platforms and solutions delivering AI capabilities for satellites, including CogniSAT-XE1, CogniSAT-XE2, CogniSAT-CRC, and CogniSAT-NEI variants.
• SPACE:AI
• Live Maritime Intelligence (LMI)
• Cognitive Edge

Products and services

• SPACE:AI Flight-proven orbital AI platform that enables real-time vision processing and autonomous decision-making onboard satellites, transforming Earth observation satellites into intelligent agents. Targets satellite operators, constellation owners, and government agencies.
• CogniSAT Edge Family of flight-proven, power-efficient edge AI computing platforms and solutions for satellites. For satellite manufacturers, integrators, and constellation operators needing onboard AI inference capability.
• CogniSAT-XE1 On-board AI payload coprocessor in PC/104 form factor for SmallSat and CubeSat missions, built around Intel Movidius Myriad 2 VPU with 12 vector cores, 5W power envelope, and CAN, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, MIPI, and CIF camera interfaces.
• CogniSAT-XE2 High-performance on-board AI payload coprocessor in PC/104 form factor for SmallSat and CubeSat missions, built around Intel Movidius Myriad X VPU with 16 vector cores for superior AI/CV compute acceleration over XE1.
• CogniSAT-CRC Cloud removal and compression solution that combines AI-based cloud detection and removal with state-of-the-art lossless image compression, achieving a six-fold increase in usable images and an 80% reduction in downlink costs.
• CogniSAT-NEI AI-enabled non-Earth imaging intelligent space camera supporting live HD video streaming (H.265 compressed RTSP), autonomous threat detection, autonomous docking assistance, and satellite failure detection for in-orbit applications.
• Cognitive Edge Anomaly detection system for industrial environments such as advanced manufacturing, mining, and critical infrastructure that monitors sensor streams in real time, predicts known failures, and detects unknown anomalies at the moment of deviation.
• Live Maritime Intelligence (LMI) Subscription-based predictive maritime surveillance service that detects potential threats, tracks suspicious vessels, and delivers decision-grade intelligence in minutes for government maritime agencies monitoring EEZs and critical underwater infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90-second processing latency vs traditional hours/days
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• NOVI Space Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Integrates Ubotica's SPACE:AI platform with NOVI's GENIE smart-satellite constellation enabling real-time AI inference directly from orbit. Processes Earth observation data within 90 seconds of acquisition, transforming satellites from passive data collectors into intelligent agents.
• Open CosmosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Collaboration on NASA JPL FAME program demonstrating autonomous intelligent satellite network. Co-developed CogniSAT-6/Hammer satellite mission. SPACE:AI deployed on Open Cosmos spacecraft for real-time Earth observation.
• NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Collaboration on FAME (Flight Demonstration of Federated Autonomous MEasurement) program under NASA's Advanced Information Systems Technology programme. Demonstrating Dynamic Targeting technology for autonomous spacecraft operations. Multiple joint missions including CogniSAT-6.
• FugroflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Partnership to develop space-to-seabed maritime intelligence platform. Combines Ubotica's satellite-based AI with Fugro's global ocean infrastructure including subsea sensors, offshore vessels, USVs, and UAVs for unified maritime awareness protecting critical underwater infrastructure.
• DTACTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Data fusion partner in the partnership with Fugro. DTACT provides data fusion capabilities combining satellite intelligence with other data streams for comprehensive intelligence picture.
• European Space AgencyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple mission partnerships including phi-sat-1 (world-first AI inference demonstration), phi-sat-2, VIGIL mission, and other Earth observation programs. ESA Rising Stars Award recipient.
• Simera SensecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing optical sensors for Earth observation satellites integrated with CogniSAT edge AI platforms.
• ThalescoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic technology partner in the CogniSAT ecosystem for satellite systems integration.
• GMVcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in CogniSAT ecosystem providing ground segment and mission management capabilities.
• CGIcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in CogniSAT ecosystem providing payload operations coordination for ESA missions including phi-sat-2.
• UnibapcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner providing space-qualified computing platforms that run SPACE:AI alongside Nvidia, Intel, and Qualcomm processors.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Unibap: Swedish space computing company providing SpaceCloud hardware and software for AI inference onboard satellites. Directly comparable as both companies build space-qualified edge compute platforms and partner with each other, while also competing for onboard AI workloads on smallsat constellations.
• KP Labs: Polish space company developing the Smart Mission Ecosystem with onboard AI processors (e.g., Leopard, Ophiuchus) for Earth observation satellites. Closely comparable to Ubotica's CogniSAT line as a competitor in flight-proven AI payload hardware for smallsats.
• AIKO Space: Italian startup providing autonomous AI software and applications for spacecraft, including onboard mission autonomy and payload data processing. Directly comparable to Ubotica's SPACE:AI platform with similar focus on in-orbit AI inference and autonomous operations.
• Open Cosmos: UK-based satellite operator and integrator that co-developed CogniSAT-6 with Ubotica. Comparable as both a partner and an emerging competitor building end-to-end smallsat missions with onboard AI capabilities, representing a vertical integration risk for Ubotica's platform layer.

Emerging players

• Cognitive Space: AI orchestration platform for satellite constellation operations including tasking, scheduling, and mission management. Comparable to Ubotica's Cognitive Earth Observation layer, though Cognitive Space focuses more on ground-based AI scheduling while Ubotica extends the AI loop into orbit.

Broad incumbents

• HawkEye 360: US-based commercial provider of RF signal intelligence from space, focused on maritime domain awareness and dark vessel detection. Comparable to Ubotica's Live Maritime Intelligence service as a broader incumbent in the geospatial intelligence market with overlapping maritime surveillance applications.
• Spire Global: Public space-to-cloud data company operating a large nanosatellite constellation for maritime AIS, weather, and aviation tracking. Comparable to Ubotica's maritime intelligence value proposition as a much larger incumbent with established data products and government customers.
• Capella Space: US SAR Earth observation company providing high-resolution all-weather imagery with tasking and analytics. Comparable as an incumbent EO operator with overlap in maritime surveillance and infrastructure monitoring use cases served by Ubotica's LMI.
• ICEYE: Finland-based operator of the largest commercial SAR satellite constellation, serving defense, maritime, and disaster response markets. Comparable to Ubotica as a broader EO incumbent serving overlapping maritime domain awareness and government customers.
• Planet Labs: Public Earth observation company operating the largest commercial fleet of imaging satellites with embedded AI analytics. Comparable to Ubotica as the dominant EO incumbent with increasing onboard AI capabilities, representing the most significant platform-layer competitive threat to Ubotica's orbital AI ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ubotica?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100085054963536
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubotica
• Instagraminstagram.com/ubotica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ubotica