Protostar Labs: Bringing AI and Autonomous Data Processing to Space and Defense
Protostar Labs is a Croatian technology and R&D company developing advanced systems for space missions and demanding applications on Earth. Founded in 2019, the company combines expertise in computer vision, artificial intelligence, embedded systems, electronics and FPGA development to create technologies designed for high-performance and mission-critical environments.
The company’s approach is centered on bringing intelligence closer to where data is generated. Instead of relying entirely on ground-based processing, Protostar Labs develops systems capable of processing and analyzing information directly at the edge, including onboard satellites. This approach can reduce data transmission requirements while enabling faster analysis and greater spacecraft autonomy.
Onboard AI and Intelligent Space Systems
One of Protostar Labs’ key technology areas is onboard data processing. Its portfolio includes a radiation-tolerant Data Processing Unit, the ProtoSDK software toolkit for deploying AI and machine-learning models on FPGA hardware, as well as FPGA-based solutions for object detection, segmentation and data compression.
The company is also developing autonomous vision systems for spacecraft inspection and monitoring. Its space camera technologies are designed to provide continuous, low-power monitoring of spacecraft structures and mission-critical components, opening applications in areas where autonomous visual analysis can support spacecraft operations.
Protostar Labs has already worked on space missions including ESA's OPS-SAT, where its software-defined payload operated on an Intel Cyclone V FPGA to demonstrate real-time telemetry analysis, anomaly detection and dynamic FPGA reconfiguration in orbit.
Expanding Into Defense and Dual-Use Technologies
While space remains at the core of Protostar Labs’ activities, the company is also applying its technologies to defense, security, robotics and industrial applications. Its R&D capabilities cover computer vision, deep learning, embedded software, FPGA acceleration and intelligent sensing, providing a technological foundation for systems that require low latency and real-time processing.
The company has also explored cooperation with the defense sector. In 2025, Protostar Labs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Croatian defense technology company Vegvisir to investigate the integration of AI algorithms with mixed-reality situational awareness systems. The cooperation includes areas such as object detection, tracking, predictive analytics and multispectral imaging.
Protostar Labs is also participating in broader European space and security initiatives. In April 2026, the company signed a Letter of Intent connected to the proposed Three Seas Hybrid Constellation, a regional satellite initiative involving companies from Croatia, Poland, Greece, Czechia, Slovenia and Slovakia. The initiative focuses on Earth observation, satellite data sharing and interoperable ground infrastructure.
With more than 40 projects, four ESA contracts and a team of 25 members, Protostar Labs is developing a portfolio that connects space-grade engineering with AI and advanced sensing applications on Earth. Its work illustrates the growing role of edge computing, computer vision and autonomous processing in both the commercial space sector and emerging dual-use technologies.
Source: Protostar Labs
