Enabling Automated Real-Time AFSCN Scheduling - Ace Premier Intelligent Distributed Scheduler (AceIDS)

ABSTRACT:Braxtons primary goal is to leverage our Phase I prototyping and continue research to evolve the ACE Premier Intelligent Distributed Scheduler (AceIDS) products capability to automatically optimize AFSCN and non-AFSCN (commercial provisioning) resource allocation. We fuse electronically-generated routine and real-time priority access requests with real-time space and ground resource status within a service-oriented, distributed architecture. In preparation for mission adaptation, our Phase II research includes the following objectives: continue to integrate and test our Genetic Algorithm, and to validate our intelligent scheduling engine and its capabilities for multi-objective optimization. With our experience in cross-domain solutions, conduct research to evaluate and implement methods to handle scheduling data of diverse classification levels, whereas the current scheduling system operates at the unclassified level only. Lights-out operations remains an AFSCN goal, therefore, we identify candidate scheduling functions for automation and apply the automation within AceIDS. Using operational and simulated data, we validate the ability for AceIDS to converge on an optimized schedule, while satisfying all objectives, constraints and rule sets. We also continue our research and increase the complexity of scenarios used to validate the ability of the scheduling system to handle ground resource and satellite anomalies, including schedules exceeding AFSCN capacity.BENEFIT:Braxton anticipates several benefits of a scheduling system capable of automatically optimizing satellite ground resources, and fusing electronically-generated routine and real-time priority access requests against multiple objectives simultaneously. First, a reduction in the number of personnel required to schedule AFSCN resources and the corresponding time to train the scheduling team. Second, an improved real-time scheduling interface allows Space Operations Centers (SOCs) to intelligently plan and adjust their missions in significantly less time. Third, improved utilization of AFSCN resources could reduce the required number of antennas driving a potential reduction in AFSCN sustainment costs. Finally, the proposed automated intelligent scheduling system could be applied to optimize resource allocation for multiple military applications to include: military satellite communication transponder scheduling, scheduling orbiting space object tracking on the Space Surveillance Network, and TRANSCOM aircraft and cargo scheduling. A marginal one percent increase in utilization of resources for any of these systems would generate savings in the tens of millions of dollars. Braxton envisions numerous commercial applications for an automated intelligent scheduling system and has already received inquiries from multiple commercial operations. There are several commercial applications similar to the proposed military applications including scheduling antenna resources for commercial space operators and satellite communication transponder scheduling on commercial systems as well as foreign sales within similar markets overseas. By separating the algorithm from the domain knowledge, Braxton has simplified the process to adapt AceIDS to any resource scheduling domain, or any resource optimization problem. For example, hospital resource scheduling is very dynamic, complex and directly impacts patient care and cost. By adapting our domain translator, Braxton will be capable of using the evolutionary algorithm within AceIDS with minimal modification to optimize hospital resource scheduling for multiple, competing objectives such as maximizing patient treatment options while minimizing cost. The hospital resource scheduling market is likely larger than the Military market and we have already had our first inquiry related to adapting AceIDS for this market.