Satellite 'Autonomous Driving': Pseudo-concept or New Track? Ground Control vs. Onboard Autonomy

In the automotive industry, "intelligent driving" has evolved from L2 assistance to L4 autonomous driving. The core logic is shifting vehicles from passively accepting commands to actively perceiving and making decisions. Today, satellites are undergoing a similar evolution: as the density of spacecraft and space debris in low Earth orbit grows by 15%-20% annually, ground control centers can no longer handle millisecond-level collision risks. Satellites must learn to "drive themselves"—not relying on humans issuing commands from afar, but using onboard AI for autonomous judgment and immediate avoidance.