AUTOMATING SATELLITE COMMAND AND CONTROL

Abstract

Existing spacecraft/satellite control requires access to a group of “experts” familiar with each satellite subsystem to be able to analyze and correct spacecraft malfunctions. When remote, mobile satellite control systems are deployed, these “experts” will not be available. Automation of many of the functions currently being performed by these experts and the operators at the consoles will allow these mobile systems to operate autonomously while correcting for anomalies that can be logically identified. This automation can be achieved by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) processes/techniques to the fault detection, command correction process. Techniques from the artificial intelligence development process and algorithms from statistical forecasting methods will be analyzed and tested for applicability in providing automated spacecraft health and status information for one DOD program. Key issues in applying these processes to all critical DOD programs will be identified and discussed.