Model-Based Architecture for Responsive Spacecraft Autonomy

The Model-based Off-Nominal State Identification and Detection (MONSID) FM system addresses the need for cost-effective solutions that enable higher levels of onboard spacecraft autonomy to reliably maintain operational capabilities. The system will provide onboard off-nominal state detection and isolation capabilities that are key components to assessing spacecraft state awareness. The ability to autonomously isolate spacecraft failures to component levels will enable faster recovery thereby reducing down time. The MONSID system is a relatively compact software package because it relies only on modeling nominal behavior; fault models are not needed. Thus, this approach has the capability to detect off-nominal behavior including un-modeled faults. Health information produced by the FM system can be used to make resource allocation and planning and scheduling decisions by ground operations or by other on-board autonomy agents. The system can be built and tested standalone potentially reducing FM developmental and testing costs. The FM system provides an evolutionary approach to full onboard autonomy as it can first be implemented and tested in ground-based systems and then migrated onboard spacecraft. The MONSID system will be fielded in an AFRL test environment designed to integrate and evaluate spacecraft autonomy enabling technologies. Onboard fault management is crucial to NASA mission