The New Millennium Program Space Technology 6 Project Autonomous Sciencecraft software implements an integrated system for autonomous planning and execution of scientific, engineering, and spacecraft- coordination actions. A prior version of this software was reported in "The TechSat 21 Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment" (NPO-30784), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 28, No. 3 (March 2004), page 33. This software is now in continuous use aboard the Earth Orbiter 1 (EO-1) spacecraft mission and is being adapted for use in the Mars Odyssey and Mars Exploration Rovers missions. This software enables EO-1 to detect and respond to such events of scientific interest as volcanic activity, flooding, and freezing and thawing of water. It uses classification algorithms to analyze imagery onboard to detect changes, including events of scientific interest. Detection of such events triggers acquisition of follow-up imagery. The mission-planning component of the software develops a response plan that accounts for visibility of targets and operational constraints. The plan is then executed under control by a task-execution component of the software that is capable of responding to anomalies.
This program was written by Steve Chien, Robert Sherwood, Daniel Tran, Benjamin Cichy, Ashley Davies, Rebecca Castaño, Gregg Rabideau, Stuart Frye, Bruce Trout, Seth Shulman, Thomas Doggett, Felipe Ip, Ron Greeley, Victor Baker, James Dohn, and Darrell Boyer of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software category.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-2827. Refer to NPO-41993.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Integrated System for Autonomous Science
(reference NPO-41993) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for the Integrated System for Autonomous Science, associated with NASA's New Millennium Space Technology 6 (ST6) project, specifically focusing on the Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (ASE) aboard the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. The ASE aims to enhance the capabilities of spacecraft to autonomously conduct scientific observations and data analysis, thereby improving efficiency and effectiveness in space missions.
The ASE leverages advanced artificial intelligence and robotics to enable the satellite to make decisions based on limited information, which is crucial given the constraints of space operations. The document highlights the challenges faced by spacecraft, including limited computing power and the necessity for ground operations teams to manage missions with minimal data. For instance, the EO-1's CPU operates at just 4 MIPS with 128 MB of RAM, significantly less than typical personal computers, necessitating efficient algorithms and planning systems.
A key component of the ASE is the CASPER (Collaborative and Autonomous Science Planning and Execution in Real-time) system, which was tested in July 2003. During this test, CASPER successfully generated and executed several operational plans onboard the satellite, including image data collection, maneuvering, and telecommunication tasks. This demonstrated the system's capability to create valid plans autonomously, which is essential for future missions where real-time decision-making is critical.
The document also references various publications and conferences related to artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation in space, indicating the broader context of research and development in these fields. It emphasizes the importance of integrating advanced technologies to enhance the autonomy of space missions, which can lead to more effective scientific exploration and data collection.
Overall, the Technical Support Package serves as a comprehensive overview of the ASE's objectives, challenges, and technological innovations, showcasing NASA's commitment to advancing autonomous systems in space exploration. It also provides contact information for further inquiries and access to additional resources from the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program Office, highlighting the collaborative nature of aerospace research and development.
