Failure detection expert software

Failure detection, identification and recovery (FDIR) has been an important and necessary instrument for space engineering since the first space flight in 1957 and has even gained importance in 1961 with the first manned flight. As the research progressed, the satellite payload increased in value, hence becoming another strong argument for FDIR. Nowadays, an on-board computer is commonly carried by each satellite (except of LAGEOS project perhaps), providing basic FDIR procedures in collaboration with ground operator. The ability of autonomous FDIR varies with satellite purpose, mission and equipment. However, as will be shown in part 3, even in deep-space missions with highly autonomous decisive algorithms, the on-board software (OBSW) is barely capable of handling very complex situations like multiple failures, chain reactions, externally caused failures or operator’s mistakes. The autonomy of the OBSW is related to the satellite’s communication possibilities. The time in view of a geostationary spacecraft is 24 hours/day, whereas the majority of the satellites merely pass by their ground station(s) several times per day with time in view in the order of minutes. Deep space missions, for a change, show the reaction time to a ground initiated command in the order of hours, a high autonomy is therefore required. Obviously, a fully automated solution of the FDIR is needed, replacing slow reacting or far away human operator. The problem is stated as the set of failures the OBSW is incapable of preventing, detecting, identifying or recovering from. Recently, such failures are to be handled by a human operator in the operating centre, requiring a constant attention of highly skilled and mission-specifically trained personnel, increasing expenses of the mission by the necessity of hiring and subsequent training of a team of highly educated, stress resistant specialists. A thought occurs, an FDIR extension could be implemented within the ground control, specifically the Mission Control Systems (fig. 1.1) for all near- Earth missions, providing an open area for research of similar principle implementation into the deep space missions, to aid the operator. Such extension, in a form of a software tool, would provide the operator with situation prediction, analysis and recovery recommendations, thus improving the performance of the human operator rapidly. Once tested and successfully operating, such tool can be tailored for and implemented to any mission, either planned or running. After proven its performance, the ground station tool might be transformed into an OBSW tool, providing especially deep space missions with higher autonomy.Validerat; 20101217 (root