Automated execution of crew procedures and Combination of Flight + Ground Procedures

Paper number

IAC-05-B4.2.03

Author

Mr. Maurizio Martignano, Serco FM B.V., The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Uwe Brauer, EADS Astrium, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Paul Kiernan, Ireland

Coauthor

Mr. Frank Plassmeier, EADS Astrium, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Mikael Wolff, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2005

Abstract

Procedures are used very often in space systems and space applications. Operators at the control centers use procedures to operate spacecrafts. When the spacecraft is manned, procedures are also used on board by the astronauts to execute flight operations.

Procedures are used both for conducting science experiments and for maintenance activities, spacecraft housekeeping. The limited complement of astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) at the same time and the increased importance of maintenance activities make the correct and efficient usage of  crew time a very important issue.

On board ISS the execution of manual procedures is assisted by a software system supporting the astronauts in various tasks, e.g.: finding the procedure to be executed, executing it step by step,  keeping a log of the performed actions, providing access to the related reference documentation and so on… This paper shows how the above mentioned software could be modified and improved to make the procedures execution more efficient (if not automatic).

The modifications and improvements presented in this paper have been developed in the context of a study on “procedures automation” funded by the ESA Human Spaceflight Programme and have converged into the implementation of a prototype version of the ODF Software Toolset (i.e. the software tools used to author and execute procedures). 

The paper is divided into four sections. The first section provides some background information on crew procedures and their execution. The second section presents the prototype implementation of the procedures execution software supporting automation. The third section makes a comparison between the ODF Standard, i.e. the language used to write procedures, and the IEEE 61131 family of languages used in process control and factory automation. The last section shows how procedures automation could also be adopted by future (and even exploratory) missions and in other application domains, different from space.

Abstract document

IAC-05-B4.2.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-B4.2.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.