Geespace, Geely Technology Group subsidiary, is set to introduce its first satellite network in time for the 50th anniversary of China’s first satellite launch.
According to Geespace, it will be launching its OmniCloud satellite-based AI cloud platform along with its first two satellites which will undergo final validation testing before being shipped to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for launch into low-orbit.
Geespace satellites represent Geely’s support and investment in new infrastructure. Apart from providing support for Geely’s own three-dimensional mobility ecology the satellite network will also support future mobility, intelligent manufacturing, unmanned drone flight, urban management, and other applications
In as early as 2010, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Chairman, Li Shufu laid out his vision for the future of Geely Holding’s transition towards being a technology driven company with social innovation at its core.
“With our feet on the ground, we should always keep an eye on the wider universe. We should protect the environment on earth and push for sustainable development here, but at the same time we should also look to develop in stars as well,” Shufu said.
In 2018, Geely Holding entered the aerospace industry with the establishment of Geespace under Geely Technology Group with the purpose of developing, launching, and operation of low-orbit satellites, the first of which will be launched in the second half of 2020. Today, the first two satellites from Geespace have been successfully produced and verified with all performance metrics meeting design specifications ahead of further testing environmental testing.
In June, the satellites will undergo final validation in various environmental tests such as vibration tests simulating the condition of the satellites in a launch environment and thermal vacuum tests that simulate operating environment in extreme sub-zero temperatures in the vacuum of space. After completing the tests, the satellites will be shipped to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in North West China for launch.
The first two Geespace satellites are designed to provide users with high-precision centimetre accurate positioning services and support the operation of OmniCloud, a new satellite-based AI cloud platform that was developed by GeeSpace.
OmniCloud is an open platform that utilizes satellite network data to provide support for satellite-based products and services. Via the use of OmniCloud, urban traffic management can be made more efficient through services such as high-precision positioning data for vehicles, artificial intelligence, and public transportation fleet management, ride-hailing and ride-sharing management.
For the development of autonomous drive, OmniCloud will be able to monitor surroundings through the use of fully connected infrastructure and vehicles, allowing it to assist with AI decision making to support safe and highly autonomous drive. In the industrial sector, OmniCloud can provide support with the help of sensors on manufacturing equipment, allowing operators to remotely monitor, control, and maintain equipment anytime and anywhere.