Lift-off for space sector during UAE Innovation Week

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced 10 new innovative space technologies and satellite applications during the UAE Innovation Week.
Among the 10 innovations presented, the KhalifaSat project highlighted seven new ones: A digital camera with an enhanced light meter for better image resolution, developing techniques to increase image download and communication speed with the satellite anywhere in the world, and satellite positioning techniques that allow capturing a larger number of 3D images.
The team also worked on developing the target positioning system, which makes the satellite one of the best in the world to provide high-quality images with high-speed response and an accurate location system.
The innovations are a result of an extensive study of the needs of government institutions and private sectors, which were translated into practical ideas. More than 45 Emirati engineers at the centre took part in the development of these innovations in KhalifaSat, the first satellite to be developed by Emiratis.
Saeed Al Mansoori, acting head of the applications development and analysis centre at the MBRSC, has developed an image processing application for space images captured by DubaiSat-2 called the 'semi-supervised classification tool for DubaiSat-2 multispectral images". Although there are several commercial applications with similar features, the innovative technique of this tool lies in its parameters that are designed to be commensurate with DubaiSat-2 images. This increases its accuracy and makes it easier to use, providing precise figures on the categories entered by users.
This tool aims at giving decision-makers in the UAE accurate analytical results of urban developments in the country, as well as highlighting the changes taking place in the vegetative and aquatic covers.
Nayif-1 will have an active control system aboard 1U CubeSat (10×10×10cm). This control system is designed to accurately locate the satellite in space and preserve its stability during operation. Nayif-1 is scheduled for launch on board a Falcon 9 rocket in the first half of 2016. UAE engineering students based in a ground station at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) will be in charge of managing the satellite operation after its launch.
Among the most innovative technologies displayed by the MBRSC is the SAFIY Project, a system designed to automatically capture the most prominent landmarks from the DubaiSat-2 images, in addition to providing three-dimensional information. This smart system is designed to capture road networks, buildings, as well as green and water landscapes. The ground-breaking feature of this device is that the images of landmarks are captured automatically.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com