Antonio Mercado-Martínez

Information

Bio

Antonio M. Mercado-Martínez is a PhD student in the field of Earth Observation. He began his academic path at the University of Malaga, where he earned a BSc in Sound and Image Engineering and an MSc in Acoustic Engineering, and where he is now pursuing his doctoral studies. Over the years, he has contributed to national and international research projects funded by institutions such as NASA and ESA. He was recently awarded an IMFAHE Excellence Fellowship to carry out a three-month research stay at a leading institution, which he will complete at ESA Φ-lab

Current Role

He is currently a doctoral research assistant at the University of Malaga, conducting research in Earth Observation. His work focuses on optimising the performance of EO missions by addressing mission-critical aspects such as data-acquisition planning, scheduling, and onboard processing for real-time applications.

Areas of Expertise

Antonio’s expertise spans several key areas of Earth Observation, including Artificial Intelligence, Satellite Edge Computing, and Satellite Mission Planning and Scheduling. These specialisations enable him to develop methods and algorithms for the autonomous planning of EO missions, offering potential value to the ESA Φ-lab Collaborative Innovation Network in light of the increasing demand for EO data and the need to optimise satellite resources.

Vision for the Future

Motivated by a future in which autonomous mission planning becomes essential to meet the growing need for accurate and timely EO data, Antonio is committed to applying cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to enhance the autonomy, efficiency, and resilience of satellite missions. His goal is to contribute to the development of intelligent systems capable of making real-time decisions in orbit, enabling a more adaptive and sustainable use of space assets.