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Edge AI

Onboard AI Compute Framework

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Project Overview

A lightweight, deterministic inference runtime designed specifically for space-rated flight computers, enabling complex AI models to run in the harsh radiation of space.

The Problem

Modern AI frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow are too bloated and non-deterministic to run on the highly constrained, radiation-hardened (rad-hard) processors used in modern satellites.

Our Solution

We developed a custom, bare-metal C++ inference engine that compiles trained neural networks into highly optimized, deterministic static binaries. It supports quantization, pruning, and memory-safe execution with zero dynamic allocation.

System Architecture

The framework takes ONNX models from standard training pipelines and compiles them ahead-of-time (AOT) for specific Rad-Hard architectures like the LEON4 or ARM Cortex-R.

Impact & Results

Achieved 40x faster inference and 90x lower memory footprint compared to standard edge runtimes. Successfully deployed on a flagship lunar mission for real-time crater detection during descent.

AI Models

Model Quantization (INT8/INT4)Neural Network PruningONNX

Technology Stack

C++CLLVMWebAssemblyRTOS