Collaborators apply intelligence to create smart telescopes
12 Mar 2026
Britain’s Hartree Centre facility has teamed with one of Africa’s leading astronomical institutions to develop an ‘intelligent observatory’ programme featuring smart, automated telescopes.
The Hartree, which specialises in AI, high performance computers and advanced data analysis is collaborating with the South African Astronomical Observatory in order to provide faster access to data and better predictive maintenance.
Money provided by the UKRI International Science Partnership Fund will help underwrite the cost of the project.
The two partner organisations will develop a connected system to monitor instrument performance and highlight potential faults.
They will also create data processing tools able to convert observations into datasets, while taking into account atmospheric interference and instrument faults. And an AI search tool will speed research work by removing the need to manually sift documents.
Additionally, documents from SALT – the South African Large Telescope – will be added to a newly created smart text search platform based at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, at Sci-Tech Daresbury near Liverpool.
SAAO head of astronomy professor Stephen Potter said: “By combining the Hartree Centre’s world-leading expertise in AI and high-performance computing with SAAO’s deep experience in telescope operations, the Intelligent Observatory represents a fundamental shift in how astronomical facilities operate.”
Hartree Centre principal AI researcher Dr Adriano Agnello, initiated the collaborative project with his colleague Dr Rob Firth.
He stated that the potential benefits would not only prove useful in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. The Intelligent Observatory’s role in testing new technologies would also aid a variety of sectors including manufacturing, energy and transport in applications such as smart sensor tech, automated data and predictive maintenance.
“These tools mark a significant step forward in the application of AI to observatory operations, broadening access to major scientific facilities and supporting translational research that can also be applied in industrial settings,” he said.
Pic: Greg Rakozy
