NASA scientists recently successfully radioed artificial
intelligence (AI) software to a satellite. They tested the
software’s ability to find and analyze errors in the
spacecraft’s systems. Normally, troubleshooting is done on
the ground.
The AI software, Livingstone Version 2 (LV2), automatically
detects and diagnoses simulated failures in the NASA Earth
Observing One (E0-1) satellite’s instruments and systems. E0-
1, launched in November 2000, is a flying test bed for new
technologies and techniques intended to boost safety, reduce
costs and development times.
“This is the kind of technology NASA needs to support future
exploration of the Earth, moon, Mars and beyond in the 21st
Century,” said Ghassem Asrar, deputy associate administrator
for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “This software grants
us the ability to troubleshoot the robotic systems required
to handle increasingly complex tasks of exploration, while
they are millions of miles and perhaps light years away from
Earth,” he said.
“Livingstone gives us a chance to recover from errors,
protect our investments in space and continue to achieve our
mission goals,” said Sandra Hayden, the Livingstone E0-1
experiment principal investigator. She is a scientist at
NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, Calif. “It
is critical to ensure spacecraft systems behave as designers
intended, and to accurately diagnose potential problems,”
Hayden said.
Tests of the LV2 computer program are taking place, while
another software application controls E0-1. NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., is conducting
the Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (ASE) experiment,
which is controlling EO-1. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC), Greenbelt, Md., manages E0-1 operations.
LV2 is monitoring the ASE software, as it autonomously runs
the satellite’s imaging systems. If the EO-1 does not respond
properly to ASE control, LV2 detects the error, makes a
diagnosis, and radios its analysis to mission control at
GSFC. LV2 will decide the best way future missions with
subsystem failures can continue and still achieve goals.
LV2 works by comparing a computerized model of how the
spacecraft’s systems and software should perform against
actual performance. If the spacecraft’s behavior differs from
the model, then the LV2 ‘reasoner’ looks for the root cause
of this difference. Livingstone then gives flight controllers
several suggestions of what might have gone wrong.
Scientists designed the LV2 software ‘reasoner’ independent
of the computerized model of the spacecraft systems. To use
it on another satellite, an engineer can apply much of the
system model created for a previous spacecraft. The model may
be customized for the small set of differences required to
interface with the ‘reasoner.’ This is because many
spacecraft use common parts, such as valves, switches and
sensors, which have the same or similar behavior patterns.
All LV2 E0-1 experiments have been successful, with the rest
scheduled over the next few weeks.
Livingstone’s developers feel the software diagnosis tool
could be used to find errors in robots or rovers exploring
Mars or other planetary bodies. Engineers state when human
beings venture deeper into space, crews will need automatic
tools like Livingstone software to identify spacecraft
problems early and make prompt repairs.
“In a future, long-duration human mission to Mars, frequent
and extensive spacecraft maintenance operations or overhauls
will not be an option,” explained Serdar Uckun, technical
lead for integrated systems health management at ARC.
Scientists predict Livingstone software and its descendents
will find widespread use at NASA, in the aerospace industry
and in other enterprises as equipment and software intricacy
increases.
For information about the E0-1 satellite on the Internet,
visit:
For information about the Livingstone Software on the
Internet, visit:
http://ic.arc.nasa.gov/story.php?sid=193
For information about ASE on the Internet, visit:
