Autonomous and Autonomic Systems: A Pardigm for Future Space Exploration Missions

摘要

NASA increasinglywill rely on autonomous systems concepts, not only in the mission control centers on the ground, but also on spacecraft and on rovers and other assets on extraterrestrial bodies. Automomy enables not only reduced operations costs, But also adaptable goal-driven functionality of mission systems. Space missions lacking autonomy will be unable to achieve the full range of advanced mission objectives, given that human control under dynamic environmental conditions will not be feasible due, in part, to the unavoidably high signal propagation latency and constrained data rates of mission communications links. While autonomy cost-effectively supports accomplishment of mission goals,autonomicity supports survivability of remote mission assets, when human tending is not feasible. Autonomic system properties conceptually may enable space missions of a higher order than any previously flown. invoiving numeroms cquntmg * sprceaft, illuPhrtes bow In&x Ternts-