WPI CS534 Showcase

Jeff Martin

NASA Remote Agent

What is it?[1]

*Computer Software on Deep Space 1

*Used to execute plans/mission objectives

*Model based

*Constraint based

*Fault tolerant

History

*Remote agent was a result of the New Millennium Program

* This program was established to test technologies that would be used in Space [1]

*Remote Agent was created from the join effort from [2]:

*NASA's Ames Research Center

* JPL (Cal Tech's Jet Propulsion Labratory

*Was First tested on NewMaap [2]

*New Millennium Autonomous Architecture Rapid Prototype

* First Version was developed in 5 months.

* Its goals where to plan and execute entry through Saturn's Rings and define an orbit

*Was field tested on DS1 [3]

Remote Agents Goal[1]

*To perform decisions on a space craft without interaction from ground controllers

*Will allow faster response time to environment conditions

*To be used when communication to ground control is not possible

RA Communication Architecture[1]

Main components of RA

*"Planner/Scheduler”

*Execution component: called "Smart Executive”

*"Mode Identification and Recovery (MIR)"

Planner/Scheduler

*Database of mission objectives(goals)

*Creates Plans for mission objectives for next timeline

*Define the operations (activities) that are needed to meet the objectives

*Ex: while one operation is performed another cannot be

*New Plan requests

*Normal conditions

* Requests new plan based on horizon

*Fault conditions

* Requests new plan if detected issue will effect future execution

*Decisions made based on potential outcomes

*Running more equipment then available power

Smart Executive

*Makes initial request for a plan

*executes operations that meet the objectives from the plan devised by the planner

*Space craft component operations

*Makes decisions on what to do in the event the outcome is not successful

*taking a picture of an object

*Attempts to recover (Retry, recovery from MIR, await replanning)

Smart Executive Planning Cycle[1]

MIR

*Mode Identification and recovery

*Monitors state of the systems on the Spacecraft

*receives sensor data

*compares to expected model

*Recognizes problems

*Requests actions to correct to Smart Executive

*Reports Failures to Smart Executive

MIR Flow[1]

Is Remote Agent Intelligent?

*The FAQ Site says no [1]

*MEDIA Relations press release say "the first artificial Intelligence software in history to command a spacecraft" [2]

*It is expected to handle situations that are unexpected, given current circumstances

References

*Provided in the notes section of each slide

*Main References:

*http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/tech/asr/planning-and-scheduling/remote-agent/

*http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mers/papers/ieee-aero.pdf

*Peter Norvig was an Affiliate member of the team.