Autonomous Target Track Management by Proliferated Space Constellations

Toyon Research Corporation proposes using a distributed asset manager to enable a system of proliferated LEO satellites exhibit autonomous behavior while, simultaneously, collaborating to achieve one or more mission goals. The distributed asset manager comprises multiple algorithm components (e.g., fusion, communications management, asset/sensor control) to enable effective, autonomous, but collaborative decision-making. The decentralized fusion component correlates and fuses track data generated by local trackers on the satellite with track data received by other satellites on the network; thus, generating a nearly common operational picture for the decision algorithms at each satellite. A communications manager is responsible for sharing data with other satellites. The core of the system is the sensor control component that determines the optimal set of sensor tasks for a collection of assets but executes only those tasks that pertain to its own sensors. All the assets operate in this manner thereby facilitating autonomous behavior without a centralized controller. On this effort, Toyon will design the distributed asset manager along with the required component algorithms. Toyon will use its ISR simulation to test the system on a basic test case with a set of high-value targets among a group of other objects and a LEO constellation.