Enhanced operations efficiency by using the Unified Synoptic System

Paper number

IAC-06-B4.2.03

Author

Mr. Uwe Brauer, EADS Astrium, Germany

Coauthor

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

Coauthor

Mr. Wim van Leeuwen, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2006

Abstract

The Unified Synoptic System (USS) was developed by ESA for replacing the existing Columbus solutions and to unify the display system used on board and on ground. USS provides enhanced flight operations efficiency and reduced effort for product preparation, qualification and maintenance for synoptic displays. Additional to its use for Columbus it is installed at Jaxa and Nasa to support requirements definition and review of Nasa generated ISS displays. Due to its advanced capabilities which go beyond of the existing known solutions it is suggested to be reused for future spacecraft EGSEs and control centres (e.g. exploration missions, satellites) as well.
USS comprises of a preparation environment (USS Editor) and an operational execution system (USS Executor). The USS editor has a state-of-the-art user interface similar to well known office and drawing tools like MS Visio. The operational environment (USS Executor) is integrated with the measurement and command processors by a pluggable adapter software or via an open (Corba based) interface.
Use of synoptic display is mostly guided by operational procedures which are in electronic format with powerful tools supporting their on-line use. However, up to now the full operational benefit has not yet been realized. Procedure viewers and synoptic display systems are completely separate entities. Direct interaction of procedure viewers with synoptic display systems or underlying system control software is not supported at all. Therefore astronauts, flight controllers and operators still have to carry out a lot of mundane activities when executing operational procedures.
Research and development work has been carried out to provide the future users with a significantly improved operational environment. The USS based procedural display viewer provides the user with a coherent, task oriented user interface for using synoptic displays and executing procedures in an efficient manner. Both display navigation (activation of related synoptic displays, highlighting of synoptic display elements for command activation or data monitoring) and direct issuing of command and parameter display capabilities from within the procedure are supported.

Abstract document

IAC-06-B4.2.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B4.2.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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