Autonomous Satellite Cluster Data Fusion

The concept of using clusters of microsatellites to replace large monolithic satellites is a relatively new idea. With this new concept, comes many new challenges to develop technologies that allow secure, intelligent information sharing between the microsatellites, the uplink/downlink communication with ground and external data sources. The overall system becomes more complex with the addition of multiple, input/output heterogeneous data sources that must receive, analyze and react efficiently and effectively to the analysis results. This results in massive amounts of information sharing with, as of yet, very little automation in handling, analysis, inter-intra communication and provide decision-making. The specific aims of this proposal are to: 1) design and describe a system architecture that will perform automated data fusion in an intelligent manner, 2) to have this architecture work for independent satellite units being expandable to multiple clusters of satellites, and 3) demonstrate its functionality to include health and status related anomaly. The future expandability of this type of system can have astounding effects in multiple disciplines including other military agencies, government organizations, as well as many other commercial domains, medical research, information technology and financial institutions. The future expandability of this type of system can have astounding effects in multiple disciplines including other military agencies, government organizations, as well as many other commercial domains, medical research, information technology and financial institutions.