Engineering Data Summarization Flight Software is a computer program designed for use aboard a spacecraft to implement a concept, called "beacon monitoring," that has been discussed in several prior NASA Tech Briefs articles. The program generates summaries of operational data (e.g., sensor readings) that represent the state of the spacecraft, and thereby reduces both (1) the quantity of information that must be telemetered to a ground station and (2) the time and cost of analyzing the data to diagnose the spacecraft. The program can also be used to reduce the cost of diagnosing a complex terrestrial system. The program generates event-driven summaries of events since the last contact. For each event, the program identifies the sensor and its readout data that triggered increased monitoring, and gathers data from that sensor and causally related sensors at a high sampling rate around the time of the event. The data from all such events are assigned priorities and stored for downlink at the next telemetry pass. Gaps in the data between events are filled by "snapshots" of all sensor channels sampled at a lower rate. Triggering for each event can be effected by use of either static alarm thresholds or adaptive thresholds established by artificial-intelligence subprograms.
This program was written by E. Jay Wyatt, Dennis Decoste, Alan Schlutsmeyer, Robert Sherwood, and John Szijjarto of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Software category.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-3425. Refer to NPO-20822.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Program Summarizes Operational Data From a Complex System
(reference NPO-20822) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document outlines the Engineering Data Summarization Flight Software developed by a team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA. This software is designed to operate aboard spacecraft, specifically to implement a concept known as "beacon monitoring." Its primary function is to generate event-driven summaries of operational data, such as sensor readings, which represent the spacecraft's state. This capability significantly reduces the volume of information that must be transmitted to ground stations and minimizes the time and cost associated with data analysis for diagnosing spacecraft conditions.
The software operates by identifying key events since the last contact with the spacecraft. For each event, it determines the sensor responsible for triggering increased monitoring and collects data from that sensor and related sensors at a high sampling rate around the time of the event. The data is prioritized and stored for downlink during the next telemetry pass. To fill gaps in data between events, the software takes "snapshots" of all sensor channels at a lower sampling rate.
The program can utilize either static alarm thresholds or adaptive thresholds established by artificial intelligence subprograms. One of the AI components, called ELMER (Envelope Learning and Monitoring using Error Relaxation), enhances the software's ability to monitor and respond to events. The software has been flight validated on the Deep Space One (DS1) mission, where it was used to support adaptive operations. It is currently baselined for the DS1 extended mission and is also intended for future projects, including NASA's Europa Orbiter Mission.
The document emphasizes that the software is available for commercial licensing, with contact information provided for interested parties. It also includes a disclaimer stating that references to specific commercial products do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or JPL.
Overall, the Engineering Data Summarization Flight Software represents a significant advancement in spacecraft data management, enabling efficient monitoring and analysis that can also be applied to complex terrestrial systems. Its innovative approach to summarizing operational data not only aids in mission success but also reduces operational costs and risks associated with space missions.
