Engineering Commons^™

An Intelligent Attitude Determination And Control System Concept For A Cubesat Class Spacecraft, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

An attitude determination and control system (ADCS) is used to orient a spacecraft for a wide variety of purposes (e.g., to keep a camera facing Earth or orient the spacecraft for propulsion system use). The proposed intelligent ADCS has several key features: first, it can be used in multiple modes, spanning from passive stabilization of two axes and unconstrained spin on a third to three-axis full active stabilization. It also includes electromagnetic components to ‘dump’ spin from the reaction wheels. Second, the ADCS utilizes an incorporated autonomous control algorithm to characterize the effect of actuation of the system components and, …

Software Design For An Intelligent Attitude Determination And Control System, Matthew Russell, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

Space exploration and satellite missions often carry equipment that must be accurately pointed towards distant targets, therefore making an effective attitude determination and control system (ADCS) a vital component of almost every spacecraft. However, the effectiveness of the ADCS could decrease drastically if components shift during launch, degrade in efficiency over the course of the mission, or simply fail. Prior work [0] has presented a concept for a adaptive ADCS which can respond to changing spacecraft conditions and environmental factors. This poster presents an implementation for a lazy learning ADCS is presented that uses past maneuver data to construct and …

Improving Satellite Security Through Incremental Anomaly Detection On Large, Static Datasets, Connor Hamlet, Matthew Russell, Jeremy Straub, Scott Kerlin

Jeremy Straub

Anomaly detection is a widely used technique to detect system intrusions. Anomaly detection in Intrusion Detection and Prevent Systems (IDPS) works by establishing a baseline of normal behavior and classifying points that are at a farther distance away as outliers. The result is an “anomaly score”, or how much a point is an outlier. Recent work has been performed which has examined use of anomaly detection in data streams [1]. We propose a new incremental anomaly detection algorithm which is up to 57,000x faster than the non-incremental version while slightly sacrificing the accuracy of results. We conclude that our method …

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (Scada) Control Optimization, Garrett Johnson, Jeremy Straub, Eunjin Kim

Jeremy Straub

SCADA systems are generally used to monitor and control multiple systems of the same type to allow them to be remotely controlled and monitored. Water plants, for example, could be controlled and monitored by a SCADA system. This project seeks to optimize a SCADA system using Artificial Intelligence. A constraint satisfaction / optimization algorithm is used to maximize performance relative to weighted system goals.

Scheduling Algorithm Development For An Open Source Software And Open Hardware Spacecraft, Calvin Bina, Jeremy Straub, Ronald Marsh

Jeremy Straub

The efficacy of each type of scheduler is assessed rela-tive to the goal of having a time and resource efficient scheduling algorithm. The scheduler must ensure suc-cessful spacecraft operations and maximize the perfor-mance of tasks relative to performance constraints and their respective due dates.

Pattern Recognition And Expert Systems For Microwave Wireless Power Transmission Failure Prevention, Cameron Kerbaugh, Allen Mcdermott, Jeremy Straub, Eunjin Kim

Jeremy Straub

Wireless power transfer (WPT) can be used to deliver space-generated power to ground stations through the use of microwave beams. WPT satellite power delivery systems have two major failure states: misdi-recting a beam and failing to send power to a station. This project has implemented an expert system to perform pattern recognition in an effort to prevent failures by analyzing the system state and predicting potential failures before they happen in support of space-based testing [1] and deployment [2].

Pattern Recognition For Detecting Failures In Space Solar Power Systems, Allen Mcdermott, Cameron Kerbaugh, Jeremy Straub, Eunjin Kim

Jeremy Straub

This poster covers work relating to the use of expert systems and pattern recognition to attempt to identify, detect and prospectively stop patterns of activity that could potentially lead to failure of a space solar power (SSP) system. A database-based expert system has is presented to identify patterns, which can be used to determine whether a power beam could hit a unintend- ed target and potentially cause a calamity. This has been implemented via a facts-rule network via which supplied and collected facts and a rule set is used to de- termine whether the system is operating correctly (from a …

Considering Scheduling Algorithms For An Open Source Software Spacecraft, Calvin Bina, Jeremy Straub, Ronald Marsh

Jeremy Straub

The OpenOrbiter Small Satellite Development Initiative at the University of North Dakota [1] is working make space research and education more accessible world-wide [2], through the design and public release of a complete set of plans, software and other documents (see [3]) for a 1-U CubeSat. This design targets a parts cost of no more than $5,000 [4]. These lowered costs, combined with the efficiencies of the CubeSat form fac-tor [5] and free-to-qualified-developer launch services [6, 7] should facilitate greater access to space for the ed-ucational, research and other communities.

Scheduling Algorithm Development For An Open Source Software Spacecraft, Calvin Bina, Jeremy Straub, Ronald Marsh

Jeremy Straub

The OpenOrbiter project at the University of North Dakota is working to develop a set of designs for a CubeSat class spacecraft as well as a working, modular collection of open source code that can be used by other CubeSat projects as a starting point for development. The availability of these designs and this codebase should foster accelerated development for other CubeSat projects, allowing those projects to focus their effort on their own application area, instead of reinventing the proverbial wheel. One aspect of this is to implement a task scheduler which will run on a Raspberry Pi flight computer …

An Overview Of The Openorbiter Autonomous Operating Software, Dayln Limesand, Timothy Whitney, Jeremy Straub, Ronald Marsh

Jeremy Straub

The OpenOrbiter spacecraft aims to demonstrate the efficacy of the Open Prototype for Educational Nanosats (OPEN) framework. Software is an important part of this framework. This paper discusses the operating software for the spacecraft (which runs on top of the Linux operating system to command spacecraft operations). It presents an overview of this software and then pays particular attention to the aspects of software design that enable onboard autonomy. It also discusses the messaging scheme that is used onboard and the testing and validation plan. Finally, it discusses system extensibility, before concluding.

Nanosatellite Scheduling Using A Dictionary Module And A ‘Useful Trick’ With Coded Unsigned Integers, Monilito Castro, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

Schedulers for small spacecraft must satisfy the dual requirement of generating very efficient schedules while concurrently minimizing the resources required to create the schedule. This paper proposes a technique for searching for tasks that can be utilized to fill particular schedule locations. This approach is based on a modular system for storing important variables. This modular system has three important variables: t0, x0 and y0. The variable y is latitude and x is longitude. Time variable t is an integer and each unit represents a time quantum. They are related to each other by three functions Ft, Fx, and Fy. …

Swarm Intelligence, A Blackboard Architecture And Local Decision Making For Spacecraft Command, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

Control of a multi-spacecraft constellation is a topic of significant inquiry, at present. This paper presents and evaluates a command architecture for a multi-spacecraft mission. It combines swarm techniques with a decentralized / local decision making architecture (which uses a set of shared blackboards for coordination) and demonstrates the efficacy of this approach. Under this approach, the Blackboard software architecture is used to facilitate data sharing between craft as part of a resilient hierarchy and the swarm techniques are used to coordinate activity. The paper begins with an overview of prior work on the precursor command technologies and then presents …

Intelligent Water Drops Algorithm For Coordinating Between Cluster Spacecraft In A Communications-Denied Environment, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

This paper presents a modification of Shah-Hosseini’s Intelligent Water Drops (IWD) technique that can be utilized for collaborative control of multiple spacecraft in environments where communications are limited, intermittent or denied. It presents Shah- Hosseini’s base IWD algorithm as well as refinements thereof, which simplify it, making it more suitable for more computationally constrained environments (such as small spacecraft and UAVs). A framework for testing the proposed approach as well as several implementation impediments are discussed.

The Critical Role Of Cubesat Spacecraft In A Multi-Tier Mission For Mars Exploration, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

A multi-tier architecture is under development (with similar craft heterogeneity to Fink's work on ‘tier scalable’ missions) which will facilitate autonomous local control of multiple heterogeneous craft. This mission architecture has been developed with a Mars mission in mind and has included CubeSats in a variety of critical mission roles.

Two concepts will be presented: the addition of CubeSats to a larger-scale multi-tier mission, where the CubeSats serve a supporting role and a mission driven by CubeSat orbital capabilities. In the first, CubeSats are utilized to augment the area of spatial coverage that can be obtained and the temporal coverage …

Scheduling For A Small Satellite For Remote Sensed Data Collection, Donovan Torgerson, Christoffer Korvalnd, Jeremy Straub, Ronald Marsh

Jeremy Straub

Small satellites, such as CubeSats, serve as excellent platforms for the collection of data that can be supplied to a geographic information system. To serve this need, they require a robust and lightweight task scheduler due to their limited onboard power production capabilities as well as internal space restrictions. Because of these constraints, schedules must be optimized; however, the scheduling optimization process must be performed using limited processing (CPU) power.

Several considerations must be taken into account in order to make a scheduler for these systems. This poster highlights requirements such as inter-dependency of onboard systems, and limited windows of …

Characterization Of Extended And Simplified Intelligent Water Drop (Siwd) Approaches And Their Comparison To The Intelligent Water Drop (Iwd) Approach, Jeremy Straub, Eunjin Kim

Jeremy Straub

This paper presents a simplified approach to performing the Intelligent Water Drops (IWD) process. This approach is designed to be comparatively lightweight while approximating the results of the full IWD process. The Simplified Intelligent Water Drops (SIWD) approach is specifically designed for applications where IWD must be run in a computationally limited environment (such as on a robot, UAV or small spacecraft) or where performance speed must be maximized for time sensitive applications. The SWID approach is described and compared and contracted to the base IWD approach.

The Multi-Tier Mission Architecture And A Different Approach To Entry, Descent And Landing, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

Planetary missions are generally very well planned out. Where the spacecraft will be deployed, what it will do there and in what order are generally determined before launch. While some allowance is made for greater depth exploration of scientifically interesting items identified during the investigation, a successful mission is (generally) one that doesn’t deviate significantly from its planning. When sending an initial mission to an unsurveyed planet or moon, however, this approach is not suitable. Current space technology provides the capability to send a combined survey and lander mission (instead of conducting an initial survey mission and following it up …

Enabling Interplanetary Small Spacecraft Science Missions With Model Based Data Analysis, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

Small spacecraft operating outside of Earth orbit are significantly constrained by the communica- tions link available to them. This is particularly true for stand-alone craft that must rely on their own antenna and transmission systems (for which gain and available power generation are limited by form factor); it is also applicable to ‘hitchhiker’-style missions which may be able to utilize (quite likely very limited amounts of) time on the primary spacecraft’s communications equip- ment for long-haul transmission.

This poster presents the adaptation of the Model-Based Transmission Reduction (MBTR) frame- work’s Model-Based Data Analysis (MBDA) component for use on an interplanetary …

Desktop Warfare: Robotic Collaboration For Persistent Surveillance, Situational Awareness And Combat Operations, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

Robotic sensing and weapons platforms can be controlled from a desktop workstation on the other side of the planet from where combat is occurring. This minimizes the potential for injury to soldiers and increases operational productivity. Significant work has been undertaken and is ongoing related to the autonomous control of battlefield sensing and warfighting systems. While many aspects of these operations can be performed autonomously, in some cases it is necessary (due to technical limitations) or desirable (due to legal or political implications) to involve humans in the low-level decision making. This paper reviews a number of specific applications where …

A Human Proximity Operations System Test Case Validation Approach, Justin Huber, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

A Human Proximity Operations System (HPOS) poses numerous risks in a real world environment. These risks range from mundane tasks such as avoiding walls and fixed obstacles to the critical need to keep people and processes safe in the context of the HPOS’s situation-specific decision making. Validating the performance of an HPOS, which must operate in a real-world environment, is an ill posed problem due to the complexity that is introduced by erratic (non-computer) actors. In order to prove the HPOS’s usefulness, test cases must be generated to simulate possible actions of these actors, so the HPOS can be shown …

Multi-Tier Exploration Concept Demonstration Mission, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

A multi-tier, multi-craft mission architecture has been proposed but, despite its apparent promise, limited use and testing of the architecture has been conducted. This paper proposes and details a mission concept and its implementation for testing this architecture in the terrestrial environment. It is expected that this testing will allow significant refinement of the proposed architecture as well as providing data on its suitability for use in both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial applications. Logistical and technical challenges with this testing are discussed.