Title :
Energy management of the Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle using a goal-oriented control system
Author :
Braman, Julia M Badger ; Wagner, David A.
Author_Institution :
NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
Abstract :
Safe human exploration in space missions requires careful management of limited resources such as breathable air and stored electrical energy. Daily activities for astronauts must be carefully planned with respect to such resources, and usage must be monitored as activities proceed to ensure that they can be completed while maintaining safe resource margins. Such planning and monitoring can be complex because they depend on models of resource usage, the activities being planned, and uncertainties. This paper describes a system - and the technology behind it - for energy management of the NASA-Johnson Space Center´s Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicles (SEV), that provides, in an onboard advisory mode, situational awareness to astronauts and real-time guidance to mission operators. This new capability was evaluated during this year´s Desert RATS (Research and Technology Studies) planetary exploration analog test in Arizona. This software aided ground operators and crew members in modifying the day´s activities based on the real-time execution of the plan and on energy data received from the rovers.
Keywords :
aerospace control; aerospace safety; energy management systems; planetary rovers; space research; space vehicles; Arizona; NASA Johnson space center; astronauts; breathable air; crew member; desert RATS planetary exploration analog test; energy management; goal oriented control system; multimission space exploration vehicle; real time guidance; research and technology study; rover; safe human exploration; safe resource management; situational awareness; software aided ground mission operator; space mission; stored electrical energy; Batteries; Control systems; Graphical user interfaces; Rats; Real time systems; Safety; Vehicles;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2011 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-7350-2
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2011.5747609