NESCA Awardee Projects

Intelligent Infrared Sensing Module For Space Application

Project Lead: Jiguang Li
Institution: Northumbria University
Partner: MConnected Ltd.
Amount: £14,978.25
Theme: Technologies

This project advances low-power infrared sensing with energy-efficient AI to strengthen resilient space communications, moving beyond approaches such as NASA's MFS-TOPS-108. It enables on-board anomaly detection, autonomous optimisation, and drastically reduced downlink demand. It converts GB/MB-scale FIR imagery into KB-level intelligent features Designed and tested for harsh space environments, the compact system will generate validated prototypes and performance data for sub-space platforms and small satellites. By anchoring development and demonstration in the North East, the project pivots regional capability toward space-qualified IR-AI systems, strengthening local SMEs, supply chains, and positioning the region as a hub for intelligent space sensing technologies.

More about the Project Lead:

Jiguang Li received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA in 2012. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science, Northumbria University. He worked as a Research Fellow in The North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC) of University of Salford. He also worked in innovation companies in China and USA.