Evolution of Control Programs for a Swarm of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly becoming a critical military asset. In the future, advances in miniaturization are going to drive the development of insect size UAVs. New approaches to controlling these swarms are required. The goal of this research is to develop a controller to direct a swarm of UAVs in accomplishing a given mission. While previous efforts have largely been limited to a two-dimensional model, a three-dimensional model has been developed for this project. Models of UAV capabilities including sensors, actuators and communications are presented. Genetic programming uses the principles of Darwinian evolution to generate computer programs to solve problems. A genetic programming approach is used to evolve control programs for UAV swarms. Evolved controllers are compared with a hand-crafted solution using quantitative and qualitative methods. Visualization and statistical methods are used to analyze solutions. Results indicate that genetic programming is capable of producing effective solutions to multi-objective control problems

Field reconnaissance geologic mapping of the Columbia Hills, Mars, based on Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and MRO HiRISE observations

Chemical, mineralogic, and lithologic ground truth was acquired for the first time on Mars in terrain units mapped using orbital Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (MRO HiRISE) image data. Examination of several dozen outcrops shows that Mars is geologically complex at meter length scales, the record of its geologic history is well exposed, stratigraphic units may be identified and correlated across significant areas on the ground, and outcrops and geologic relationships between materials may be analyzed with techniques commonly employed in terrestrial field geology. Despite their burial during the course of Martian geologic time by widespread epiclastic materials, mobile fines, and fall deposits, the selective exhumation of deep and well‐preserved geologic units has exposed undisturbed outcrops, stratigraphic sections, and structural information much as they are preserved and exposed on Earth. A rich geologic record awaits skilled future field investigators on Mars. The correlation of ground observations and orbital images enables construction of a corresponding geologic reconnaissance map. Most of the outcrops visited are interpreted to be pyroclastic, impactite, and epiclastic deposits overlying an unexposed substrate, probably related to a modified Gusev crater central peak. Fluids have altered chemistry and mineralogy of these protoliths in degrees that vary substantially within the same map unit. Examination of the rocks exposed above and below the major unconformity between the plains lavas and the Columbia Hills directly confirms the general conclusion from remote sensing in previous studies over past years that the early history of Mars was a time of more intense deposition and modification of the surface. Although the availability of fluids and the chemical and mineral activity declined from this early period, significant later volcanism and fluid convection enabled additional, if localized, chemical activity.Additional co-authors: D DesMarais, M Schmidt, NA Cabrol, A Haldemann, Kevin W Lewis, AE Wang, D Blaney, B Cohen, A Yen, J Farmer, R Gellert, EA Guinness, KE Herkenhoff, JR Johnson, G Klingelhöfer, A McEwen, JW Rice Jr, M Rice, P deSouza, J Hurowit

Origins Space Telescope: baseline mission concept

The Origins Space Telescope will trace the history of our origins from the time dust and heavy elements permanently altered the cosmic landscape to present-day life. How did galaxies evolve from the earliest galactic systems to those found in the Universe today? How do habitable planets form? How common are life-bearing worlds? To answer these alluring questions, Origins will operate at mid- and far-infrared (IR) wavelengths and offer powerful spectroscopic instruments and sensitivity three orders of magnitude better than that of the Herschel Space Observatory, the largest telescope flown in space to date. We describe the baseline concept for Origins recommended to the 2020 US Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The baseline design includes a 5.9-m diameter telescope cryocooled to 4.5 K and equipped with three scientific instruments. A mid-infrared instrument (Mid-Infrared Spectrometer and Camera Transit spectrometer) will measure the spectra of transiting exoplanets in the 2.8 to 20  μm wavelength range and offer unprecedented spectrophotometric precision, enabling definitive exoplanet biosignature detections. The far-IR imager polarimeter will be able to survey thousands of square degrees with broadband imaging at 50 and 250  μm. The Origins Survey Spectrometer will cover wavelengths from 25 to 588  μm, making wide-area and deep spectroscopic surveys with spectral resolving power R  ∼  300, and pointed observations at R  ∼  40,000 and 300,000 with selectable instrument modes. Origins was designed to minimize complexity. The architecture is similar to that of the Spitzer Space Telescope and requires very few deployments after launch, while the cryothermal system design leverages James Webb Space Telescope technology and experience. A combination of current-state-of-the-art cryocoolers and next-generation detector technology will enable Origins’ natural background-limited sensitivity

Origins Space Telescope: Science Traceability Matrix and Design Reference Mission

International audienceThe Origins Space Telescope (OST) is a science and technology definition study for NASA Headquarters for the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal survey. OST, operating from 3 to 600 microns, will have a factor of 1000 improved sensitivity over prior far-infrared missions, enabled by cold (4.5 K) optics and sensitive detectors. This poster will describe the science traceability matrix and design reference mission for the OST Baseline Mission Concept. Three science themes are featured. How does the Universe work?: How do galaxies form stars, make metals and dust, and grow their central supermassive black holes from reionization to today? How did we get here?: How do the conditions for habitability develop during the process of planet formation? Are we alone?: OST will assess the habitability of nearby exoplanets and search for signs of life. Major new results in all three themes can be accomplished within one year of time. Moreover, these science themes have defined observatory capabilities that enable a broad range of general astronomical science. We welcome you to contact the OST Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) with your science questions and ideas by emailing us at [email protected]

Origins Space Telescope: Science Traceability Matrix and Design Reference Mission

International audienceThe Origins Space Telescope (OST) is a science and technology definition study for NASA Headquarters for the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal survey. OST, operating from 3 to 600 microns, will have a factor of 1000 improved sensitivity over prior far-infrared missions, enabled by cold (4.5 K) optics and sensitive detectors. This poster will describe the science traceability matrix and design reference mission for the OST Baseline Mission Concept. Three science themes are featured. How does the Universe work?: How do galaxies form stars, make metals and dust, and grow their central supermassive black holes from reionization to today? How did we get here?: How do the conditions for habitability develop during the process of planet formation? Are we alone?: OST will assess the habitability of nearby exoplanets and search for signs of life. Major new results in all three themes can be accomplished within one year of time. Moreover, these science themes have defined observatory capabilities that enable a broad range of general astronomical science. We welcome you to contact the OST Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) with your science questions and ideas by emailing us at [email protected]

Total reads of bacterial families identified by SILVA after pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA of the cecal content of rabbits.

<p>The graph represents the average for each of the three groups: control (white), antibiotic treatment (grey) and ERE (black).</p