Learning Agents for Autonomous Space Asset Management (LAASAM)

ABSTRACT: Current and future space systems will continue to grow in complexity and capabilities, creating a formidable challenge to monitor, maintain, and utilize these systems and manage their growing network of space and related ground-based assets. Integrated System Health Management (ISHM), and in particular, Condition-Based System Health Management (CBHM), is the ability to manage and maintain a system using dynamic real-time data to prioritize, optimize, maintain, and allocate resources. A complete, modern CBHM system comprises a number of functional capabilities: sensing and data acquisition; signal processing; conditioning and health assessment; diagnostics and prognostics; and decision reasoning. In addition, an intelligent Human System Interface (HSI) is required to provide the user/analyst with relevant context-sensitive information, the system condition, and its effect on overall situational awareness. During Phase I, the CEI team researched and designed a network architecture encapsulating intelligent software agent technology for CBHM data collection, processing, and space system management: LAASAM. The architecture significantly enhances an analyst"s ability to make timely, effective decisions and take actions to protect, and maximize the utility of, US Space Assets. In Phase II, the CEI team will develop a prototype system based upon that architecture and demonstrate its CBHM and space situational awareness capabilities. BENEFIT: CEI has developed software and hardware technologies for a variety of government programs, and the team has transitioned over 37 products to production for use in DoD and Government systems. CEI also has experience commercializing technology developed under Government-funded programs. Products are packaged as COTS items, listed on a catalog price sheet, supported with technical application notes and marketing materials, and made available for sale to both the commercial and Government markets. CEI will promote technologies developed under this effort as part of its standard commercial product marketing and sales activities. As further evidence of CEI"s success with commercialization of SBIR technology, the Small Business Administration recently presented CEI the 2011 Tibbetts Award. This prestigious award is presented to small businesses that represent excellence in achieving the mission and goals of the SBIR and STTR program, stimulate technological innovation, and increase commercialization of Federal research. The LAASAM technology developed under this program will realize condition-based health management for enhanced situational awareness of a wide variety of space-based assets and supporting ground equipment. A key platform target for Phase III transition is the next generation Global Positioning System Control Segment (GPS OCX) program awarded to Raytheon. Raytheon anticipates leveraging CEI"s LAASAM architecture to help address the program"s requirement for condition-based health management. GPS OCX is the 3rd generation GPS information processing system and requires extensive provisioning, health monitoring, prognostics, and distributed diagnostic capability. LAASAM also has commercial applications. Major market segments include the oil and gas industry, network management within the telecommunications industry, transportation/logistics providers, and commercial space. The CEI marketing team has made contact with key players in the oil and gas industry and is executing a marketing plan to develop these commercial sales opportunities during Phase II.