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Autonomy
Task Objective
The objective of this task is to integrate perception and
reasoning capability into autonomous formation flying control
of multiple spacecrafts by developing autonomy techniques
for identified areas of research that would benefit from autonomy
infusion.
Task Description
Formation flying involves the simultaneous and coordinated
control of multiple spacecrafts. Future missions, such as
Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF), Stellar Imager (SI), and
Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure
(SPECS) , require the use of dispersed spacecrafts having
long separation distances to achieve necessary scientific
measurements. Earth Science missions may utilize inexpensive,
miniature, spacecrafts flying in formation to measure the
processes and events effecting Earth. The Sun-Earth connection
may significantly improve our understanding of the processes
that occur between the Sun and Earth by employing a fleet
of science probes flying in loose formation. The entire Space
Science Enterprise (e.g. Origins, Sun-Earth Connection, Structure
and Evolution of the Universe, and Solar System Exploration)
derives benefits from formation flying technology. Unfortunately,
current technology is not sufficient to enable the ambitious
science goals of these missions. Thus, associated with these
advanced missions is an unmet need to develop advanced formation
flying technologies. One answer to this call is the advanced
development of autonomy technologies with a specific focus
on formation flying control of multiple spacecrafts.
 The process of infusing autonomy technologies into future
missions is a daunting task. For autonomy technologies, especially
at low maturity levels, evaluating its benefits through risk
models and utility functions is not always sufficient to
understand the science gains achieved from infusing autonomy
into the mission scenario. To understand the role autonomy
can play in the formation flying control area, we must first
understand future mission requirements, and the issues that
are currently unresolved in this area. Due to the perceived
risks associated with the use of autonomy techniques, autonomy,
in itself, may not be an acceptable solution from the mission
perspective to exclusively address unresolved issues. Rather,
autonomy can be promoted as a mission-enhancer. A technology
that, when combined with classical techniques, can enhance
and enable the capability of future missions. This capability
can range from high-level control, in which autonomy techniques
are linked in a hierarchical fashion with GN&C algorithms
for low-level control, to fault detection and recovery, in
which autonomy techniques are used to detect faults in the
spacecraft operation and identify appropriate control actions
accordingly. Autonomy then becomes a key to enabling future
capability of these advanced formation flying mission scenarios.
Thus, our task objectives become–
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