Modular, Scalable, Autonomous Energy Management for Next Generation Responsive Space

ABSTRACT: Next generation highly autonomous space vehicles need certain key technologies in order to achieve their promised goals. Much time is spent in mission planning working out the details of daily activities of space vehicle so as to assure adequate power/energy margin. The more autonomous vehicle must be able to manage power in a proactive rather than reactive way. It is not sufficient to simply notify the C & DH system when the battery is in yellow limit, or shut down non-essential functions when energy reserves are lowa new generation PMAD must take over much of the work previously done on the ground by mission planners. This is similar to ground-based"smart grid"technology. Sources and loads are managed by predictive tools. Design_Net is developing such a system that will support on-orbit autonomous mission executiona system that takes requests from the ground for high-level operations and translates that into a"mission plan."The smart PMAD called"Autonomous Energy Management Subsystem or AEMS starts with a baseline but"learns"operations as the mission proceeds and is able to more highly optimize use of resources. The AEMS depends on a new generation set of modular source and storage which is also being developed. BENEFIT: Cost issues for Space Mission operations look for technology solutions that allow more control and autonomy on board. Likewise, tactical needs seek more direct input into Space Vehicle taskingtasking at a much higher level such as"take a HS image of this Lat/Long ASAP."More modular architectures and components, the ability to add rule based autonomy engines of Spacecraft and the fact the subsystems and components can now have more"smarts"built into them are enablers that allow us to move toward achievement of these larger goals. DNet"s Autonomous Energy Management System (AEMS) is one of the key enablers which will reduce the need for detailed mission planning and move much of that function on-board the space vehicle. Likewise development of the hardware technologies and architectures described in our proposal fill the need for"depot based"rapid configuration of a mission by allowing highly modular energy source and storage components. Our"smart battery"based on Quallion cell technology allows zero maintenance and rapid call up reducing dramatically the cost and maintenance required over traditional approaches.