Back in 2018, Kinéis, the brainchild of CNES and CLS, was created with one objective: revolutionizing the first space IoT dedicated to the environment. Now, the adventure has come full orbit thanks to a fifth successful launch of five nanosatellites, joining the 20 others currently circling our planet and completing the constellation.
Soon, these nanosats carrying new-generation IoT payloads for Argos Services will begin offering accessible global connectivity in near-real time, enhancing our new generation of Argos Smart Environment Solutions.
So, what does this mean for our smart solutions? Christel Delmas, Head of our Environment & Climate Monitoring Services Department, tells us more.
Christel, you’ve been following the adventure from the beginning, what improvements will this constellation bring to Argos Smart Environment Solutions?
This new Kinéis constellation represents a major leap forward for our Argos services and brings three fundamental improvements:
Near Real-Time Data: With 25 nanosatellites in orbit and a network of 19 Ground Stations all over the world , we drastically reduce the end-to-end latency in data reception , making near real-time tracking a reality. This is crucial for applications requiring timely decision-making, such as wildlife monitoring or pollution tracking.
Optimized Reception Quality: The advanced IoT payloads onboard these satellites significantly enhance data reception, improving reliability even in the most remote and challenging environments. Users will benefit from greater accuracy and efficiency in tracking and monitoring.
Increased System Capacity: With a high performing new generation of receiver onboard the nanosats, we can manage a higher volume of connected devices simultaneously. This means more data points, better coverage, and improved service availability for our customers.
And Two-way capabilities: With hardware such as the Kinéis KIM2 module, this feature provides the opportunity to reconfigure devices remotely and, in certain cases, receive message acknowledgement by the satellites.
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How will these improvements enhance our solutions in different sectors?
Our solutions gain unprecedented efficiency across multiple sectors. In agriculture, farmers can better monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and anticipate environmental risks like drought.
For livestock management, enhanced tracking enables near real-time monitoring to prevent theft, detect anomalies, such as diseases, and mitigate predator threats.
Environmental applications, such as pollution tracking, benefit from more frequent and accurate data collection, allowing for faster response to contamination events.
Conservation efforts are strengthened with precise wildlife monitoring, offering real-time insights into species behavior and habitat changes, aiding in protection strategies and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
How does this global connectivity fit into the broader Argos Smart Environment Solutions ecosystem?
The connectivity provided by the Kinéis constellation is a crucial brick in a much larger structure. Our solutions go beyond simple connectivity. Argos Smart Environment Solutions integrates satellite IoT with advanced AI, Earth Observation data, and decades of unique expertise. By combining these elements, we transform raw data into actionable intelligence.
For instance, in wildlife conservation, real-time location tracking is just the first step. AI helps detect unusual movement patterns, while Earth Observation imagery provides context on habitat changes.
This holistic approach ensures that our customers — whether in agriculture, biodiversity protection, or environmental monitoring — receive not just data, but meaningful insights that drive informed decision-making and effective action.
What’s next for our solutions?
The Kinéis constellation is just the beginning. We’ll continue enhancing our capabilities. Our goal is to provide decision-makers with real-time, data-driven insights that support sustainable environmental management. With this new constellation fully operational, we’re entering a new era of intelligent, satellite-enabled solutions for a more connected and protected planet.
With the expanded Kinéis constellation, Argos Smart Environment Solutions is set to redefine the way we monitor and manage our world. Whether in agriculture, wildlife conservation, pollution control, or livestock tracking, this technological advancement brings us closer to a future where environmental intelligence is at our fingertips.
