A Roadmap for Progressive Autonomy in Mission Operations
- Paper number
IAC-06-D1.4.06
- Author
Ms. Cindy Kurt, United Space Alliance, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The introduction of more autonomy into onboard and ground operations is suggested as a way of reducing manpower requirements while maintaining or exceeding existing safety levels and vehicle situational awareness. What areas of mission operations would benefit most from the introduction of more autonomy? A common approach is to utilize autonomous systems to identify and respond to anomalous conditions in near real time. To measure the feasibility of such an application in NASA’s manned spaceflight program, the In-Flight Anomalies list from every Space Shuttle mission and all Items For Investigation from the International Space Station were analyzed. Each event was scrutinized for potential autonomy applications. Analysis parameters include: the length of time to recognize the event, the required response time for the event, the methods used to analyze the event, and the resolution actions for the event. For each parameter a detailed analysis and categorization was made as to whether an autonomous system could perform the same identification, analysis, and actions and achieve the same results, or if human intervention is required. If the latter, required data and tools that best facilitate the human-in-the-loop response are theorized. Conclusions are drawn on the most favorable autonomy technologies to pursue, with an emphasis on solutions having a multi-system impact, a novel human-systems interactions impact, a safety/risk reduction impact, and a significant human workload impact. An analysis and discussion of International Space Station Program Notes, or SPNs, is further included to highlight potentially adverse affects of an unfocused infusion of autonomous systems. SPNs are a type of mission report that document unexpected or counter-intuitive behavior of the onboard flight software in response to the execution of a documented and certified operations procedure. The lack of deterministic command-system response in unique vehicle scenarios and the introduction of numerous workarounds to accommodate such scenarios is a challenge both for autonomous systems development and for the adoption of truly autonomous vehicle operations. Suggestions for avoiding inflexible autonomy implementations are provided. The study results serve to demonstrate the breadth and depth where new technical solutions would be required for autonomous operations, while highlighting areas where the introduction of autonomy may be inefficient to implement. The results provide an autonomy solutions roadmap for current manned programs, serve as lessons learned for future manned programs, and provide a mechanism for autonomy researchers from all disciplines to participate in the space program. Copyright © 2006 by United Space Alliance, LLC
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-D1.4.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.