Autonomous Spacecraft Power Scheduling

AeroAstro and the University of Colorado propose to develop an autonomous satellite power control system to dynamically monitor, schedule and distribute power resources on microsatellites , while remaining sensitive to the mission objectives. The Autonomous Power Scheduler (APS) will maximize power efficiency and availability while being situationally-aware of bus conditions. The concept system would employ a component-based model to diagnose system status with embedded logic, and respond to anomalous power states and initiate recovery or mitigation actions pending further ground command, while remaining within defined spacecraft state-of-health parameters. The APS represents an innovative paradigm shift from conventional design practices. Conventionally, spacecraft power is managed using static, non-intelligent designs based on worst-case, lowest power scenarios, and subsystem operational power allocations are made with ?man-in-the-loop? decisions through transmitted commands. What is proposed here is a method to control primary power in an intelligent, semi- or fully autonomous fashion maximizing mission capability and performance. Appropriate power will be distributed when and where it is most needed. The autonomy of the APS concept and the resulting reduction in requirements for ?man-in-the-loop? decision making makes it particularly applicable to NASA?s future generation of distributed constellation missions.