Autonomous Systems, Robotics, and Computing Systems Capability Roadmap: NRC Dialogue

Contents include the following: Introduction. Process, Mission Drivers, Deliverables, and Interfaces. Autonomy. Crew-Centered and Remote Operations. Integrated Systems Health Management. Autonomous Vehicle Control. Autonomous Process Control. Robotics. Robotics for Solar System Exploration. Robotics for Lunar and Planetary Habitation. Robotics for In-Space Operations. Computing Systems. Conclusion

The 1990 Johnson Space Center bibliography of scientific and technical papers

Abstracts are presented of scientific and technical papers written and/or presented by L. B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) authors, including civil servants, contractors, and grantees, during the calendar year of 1990. Citations include conference and symposium presentations, papers published in proceedings or other collective works, seminars, and workshop results, NASA formal report series (including contractually required final reports), and articles published in professional journals

XTerramechanics: Integrated Simulation of Planetary Surface Missions

Are there contemporary habitats elsewhere in the solar system with necessary conditions, organic matter, water, energy, and nutrients to support or sustain life. Are there habitats that have experienced conditions similar to those on Earth when life emerged ,an abode of possible lifelong past. Mars and Europa(Jupiter’s icy moon)have been identified as the most relevant and immediate in the quest to answer these questions. Beyond Mars and Europa, every celestial body of interest appears to have its own geological history and every new discovery accentuates the overall complexity of our solar system. The exploration of Mars and Europa, and others, both remotely and in situ, is a central priority as part of NASA’s current and future goals for understanding the building of new worlds, the requirements for planetary habitats, and the workings of the solar system

ESMD Space Grant Faculty Project

No abstract availabl

Autonomy Software: V&V Challenges and Characteristics

The successful operation of unmanned air vehicles requires software with a high degree of autonomy. Only if high level functions can be carried out without human control and intervention, complex missions in a changing and potentially unknown environment can be carried out successfully. Autonomy software is highly mission and safety critical: failures, caused by flaws in the software cannot only jeopardize the mission, but could also endanger human life (e.g., a crash of an UAV in a densely populated area). Due to its large size, high complexity, and use of specialized algorithms (planner, constraint-solver, etc.), autonomy software poses specific challenges for its verification, validation, and certification. -- - we have carried out a survey among researchers aid scientists at NASA to study these issues. In this paper, we will present major results of this study, discussing the broad spectrum. of notions and characteristics of autonomy software and its challenges for design and development. A main focus of this survey was to evaluate verification and validation (V&V) issues and challenges, compared to the development of "traditional" safety-critical software. We will discuss important issues in V&V of autonomous software and advanced V&V tools which can help to mitigate software risks. Results of this survey will help to identify and understand safety concerns in autonomy software and will lead to improved strategies for mitigation of these risks

Technology for Future NASA Missions: Civil Space Technology Initiative (CSTI) and Pathfinder

Information is presented in viewgraph form on a number of related topics. Information is given on orbit transfer vehicles, spacecraft instruments, spaceborne experiments, university/industry programs, spacecraft propulsion, life support systems, cryogenics, spacecraft power supplies, human factors engineering, spacecraft construction materials, aeroassist, aerobraking and aerothermodynamics

Design of algorithms for improving resilience of sensors in space exploration

The main goal of this thesis is to design and implement software, based on artificial neural networks, capable of predicting data values for failures in the wind sensor aboard NASA's rovers. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to understand the context and operation of the wind sensors, designed by the UPC-ETSETB. Distinct conditions and situations are described to characterize the variables and neural networks proposed. This project demonstrates that it is possible to obtain variables, which entails that the behavior of a particular sensor can be predicted by the conduct of the rest. In the process of the project, different machine learning models are constructed according to different data sets and target results. Then, the performance of the model is evaluated by such indicators as error rate. The result of data recovery is measured by root mean square error. At last, the model results are compared with the data interpolation results, and the conclusion is drawn. The result of model prediction is better than that of data interpolation. These models show promising results with different input data and might provide robustness to the measurements of wind sensors. At the same time, the more input data, the higher the accuracy of output results

Integration Process for the Habitat Demonstration Unit

The Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU) is an experimental exploration habitat technology and architecture test platform designed for analog demonstration activities The HDU project has required a team to integrate a variety of contributions from NASA centers and outside collaborators and poses a challenge in integrating these disparate efforts into a cohesive architecture To complete the development of the HDU from conception in June 2009 to rollout for operations in July 2010, a cohesive integration strategy has been developed to integrate the various systems of HDU and the payloads, such as the Geology Lab, that those systems will support The utilization of interface design standards and uniquely tailored reviews have allowed for an accelerated design process Scheduled activities include early fit-checks and the utilization of a Habitat avionics test bed prior to equipment installation into HDU A coordinated effort to utilize modeling and simulation systems has aided in design and integration concept development Modeling tools have been effective in hardware systems layout, cable routing and length estimation, and human factors analysis Decision processes on the shell development including the assembly sequence and the transportation have been fleshed out early on HDU to maximize the efficiency of both integration and field operations Incremental test operations leading up to an integrated systems test allows for an orderly systems test program The HDU will begin its journey as an emulation of a Pressurized Excursion Module (PEM) for 2010 field testing and then may evolve to a Pressurized Core Module (PCM) for 2011 and later field tests, depending on agency architecture decisions The HDU deployment will vary slightly from current lunar architecture plans to include developmental hardware and software items and additional systems called opportunities for technology demonstration One of the HDU challenges has been designing to be prepared for the integration of presently unanticipated systems Results of the HDU field tests will influence future designs of habitat systems

Integration and Performance Evaluation of The RAD1 Spectrometer in The RLS ExoMars Simulator

El presente proyecto fin de grado se enmarca en el desarrollo del espectrómetro Raman RLS del proyecto ExoMars de la Agencia Espacial Europea, que enviará un rover a Marte en el 2022. La unidad Asociada UVa-CSIC-CAB es un grupo de investigación reconocido (GIR ERICA) de la Universidad de Valladolid, dirigido por el investigador principal del instrumento RLS y, en cuya sede, se encuentra el RLS ExoMars Simulator. Este es un sistema desarrollado para automatizar y emular las capacidades analíticas del instrumento RLS en conjunción con el sistema de preparación y distribución de muestras (SPDS) del rover de ExoMars. En este marco de actuación, el presente proyecto consta de tres fases diferenciadas: 1. Estudio y puesta al día, comprensión y análisis de la problemática, de la teoría de la espectroscopía Raman y la misión ExoMars, así como de los aspectos hardware y software relevantes del simulador ExoMars. 2. Realización de la integración del espectrómetro RAD1 (RAman Demonstrator 1) en la réplica de laboratorio del instrumento RLS, el Simulador ExoMars. 3. Realización de un estudio de funcionamiento y prestaciones de dicho espectrómetro en conjunción con el resto de elementos del simulador, así como la comparación de dichas prestaciones con la configuración previa basada en un espectrómetro comercial. La fase de integración se ha realizado de forma escalable, de modo que podrían añadirse nuevos espectrómetros en el futuro. A su vez, el tratamiento de datos y la estructura del código anterior han quedado inalterados. Finalmente, en la fase del estudio de prestaciones, se han llevado a cabo ensayos con ambos espectrómetros mediante el uso de muestras estándares. Dichos análisis han permitido la obtención de resultados acerca de las prestaciones ofrecidas en ambas configuraciones, comparándolas a su vez con las del instrumento RLS, pudiendo así evaluar la bondad del sistema con las actualizaciones introducidas. Además, el objetivo fundamental del trabajo es hacer del Simulador ExoMars un emulador más realista, acercándose así a las prestaciones presentes en el instrumento RLS de vuelo.The technical content of this end-of-studies project is encompassed in the framework of the development of the Raman RLS spectrometer, part of the ExoMars project of the European Space Agency, which is programmed to launch a rover to the Martian surface in 2022. The Associate Unit UVa-CSIC-CAB and the ERICA group, which is a recognized investigation group of the University of Valladolid, are responsible for this instrument. This group is directed by the principal investigator of the RLS instrument and the RLS ExoMars Simulator is located in their facilities. This is a system developed to automatize and emulate the analytical capabilities of the RLS instrument in conjunction with the SPDS (Samples Preparation and Distribution System) of the ExoMars rover. The aim of this project is well separated into three main objectives: 1. General comprehension of the project, understanding of the basics of Raman spectroscopy and the ExoMars mission, and analysis of the principal hardware/software capabilities of the RLS ExoMars Simulator. 2. Integration of the RAD1 (RAman Demonstrator 1) spectrometer code into the ExoMars Simulator software. 3. Study of the functionalities and the benefits of each spectrometer in conjunction with the rest of the parts of the simulator. Both configurations will be compared to gather data, enabling a technical comparison between spectrometers according to results. The integration part was accomplished ensuring a scalable structure, in order to allow future code extensions and the incorporation of new spectrometers. At the same time, data treatment and the code structure have remained immutable. Moreover, as part of the study comparison, standard samples have been used to assure the capabilities of each spectrometer, allowing the analysis of the new actualizations proposed and the final comparison with the real RLS instrument. Finally, the main goal of the project is to improve the realism of the simulator, bringing it closer to the characteristics of the real flying RLS instrumentGrado en Ingeniería de Tecnologías Específicas de Telecomunicació