Hong Kong College of Science and Expertise (HKUST) start-up Stellerus Expertise goals to be the world’s first supplier of satellite-enabled three-dimensional wind information to assist wind energy, transport and insurance coverage corporations enhance revenues, lower prices and handle dangers, in keeping with its founders.
Stellerus, based in 2023 by the college’s lecturers, would leverage China’s value competitiveness in satellite tv for pc manufacturing to make world 3D wind information assortment economically viable, mentioned Su Hui, the chairwoman and co-founder.
3D wind information – wind course and pace and their adjustments with altitude – is essential for bettering climate forecasting, particularly extreme local weather occasions.
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“After I got here to Hong Kong, I realised the know-how for implementing such a challenge in mainland China was fairly developed and the price could be a lot decrease than abroad,” Su mentioned. “Within the US, such a satellite tv for pc may value US$100 million to construct, in contrast with 20 million yuan [US$2.8 million] in China.”
Su Hui, the chairwoman and co-founder of Stellerus Expertise. Photograph: Edmond So alt=Su Hui, the chairwoman and co-founder of Stellerus Expertise. Photograph: Edmond So>
Su, a hydraulic skilled, joined the HKUST’s division of civil and environmental engineering in 2022 as chair professor. She was previously a principal scientist and climate programme supervisor on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Nasa.
By deploying superior optical sensors, Stellerus may acquire information and use synthetic intelligence to analyse carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour within the ambiance to calculate adjustments in wind course and pace, she mentioned.
“Such detailed information is missing for meteorological statement and evaluation globally,” she mentioned. “Varied organisations, together with Nasa, plan to embark on such a challenge, however none has been applied thus far because of the excessive value of launching a satellite tv for pc constellation.”
Nasa was testing laser know-how for creating space-based 3D wind measurements, in keeping with its web site. It was additionally collaborating with the US Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop superior distant climate sensing devices that may be flown aboard satellites to gather extremely exact information to enhance climate forecasting globally.
In August 2023, HKUST partnered with Chang Guang Satellite tv for pc Expertise – a Jilin government-backed agency and China’s first business distant sensing satellite tv for pc firm – to turn out to be Hong Kong’s first increased schooling establishment to launch an Earth environmental satellite tv for pc.
