Adaptive Autonomous Architecture for Dynamic Operations

SpaceŚonce a passive and risk-averse environmentŚis rapidly evolving due to new commercial and military interests. Traditionally, satellite operations were slow and manually controlled, but the increasing presence of commercial non-government entities, the establishment of the US Space Force, and growing anti-satellite capabilities signal a shift towards a more dynamic and contested space environment. This transformation underscores the need for autonomous (or semi-autonomous, human-on-the loop) space capabilities for major phases of spacecraft lifetime, launch and early orbit, normal operations, and end of life. The adoption of a system-level, lifecycle autonomous software architecture would represent a significant advancement in spacecraft technology, leading to more adaptable, robust, and efficient space missions. This shift would transform space operations from a static and reactive approach with predetermined responses to proactive, intelligent decision-making. It would consider the entire state and mission objectives of the spacecraft, enabling a new era in dynamic space operations. Verus Research proposes the Adaptive Autonomous Architecture for Dynamic Operations (A3-DynO), a system-level satellite architecture designed to enhance mission efficiency and performance, tailored to automate lifecycle tasking while navigating the challenges of limited resources and dynamic conditions in an open environment. The primary technical characteristics of A3-DynO are modularity, reconfigurability, and adaptability, which are enhanced through predictive analytics, layered defense mechanisms, and adaptive resource management. The end state of A3-DynO is a tailorable hardware/software payload that is installed onto a satellite bus, ranging from 6U to ESPA class, with interfaces to the other submodules on the bus for ingesting data and sending commands, and that autonomously performs mission and day-to-day operations of the satellite in a trusted and secure fashion.Ā