A Multi-Agent Based Ground-Operations Automation Architecture

Abstract

Reducing the costs of space operations is an increasing demand which may be achieved by automating the ground segment operations. This work proposes a Multi-Agent GroundOperation Automation architecture named MAGA. This architecture aggregates agents responsible for automating space operation planning and execution. MAGA architecture manages ground resource allocation for multi-satellite tracking and plans the satellite control operations. For the planning process, it considers the temporal restriction of a satellite visibility period which may have its tracking period reduced due to a time conflict with another satellite passage. MAGA architecture analyzes whether the satellite tracking period is sufficient to achieve all the tracking goals and allows the elimination of lesser priority goals in case of insufficient time. Therefore, it assings priorities to goals and allows priorities to be reconfigurable for the next satellite tracking requirements. I. Introduction N the field of satellite control, there is a general interest in automating the space operation planning and execution. The automation of space operations represents a way of reducing in-orbit satellite maintenance costs. By adopting the ideas proposed in this work, we intend to keep the number of personnel responsible for satellite control towards the project of new satellites. The aim is to be able to come up with a solution to fit Space Program budgets concernig the launching of new satellites. The automation described in this work is strongly concerned with the task of controlling multiple satellites, dealing with temporal restrictions as well as the sharing of ground resources, and managing the conflicts that may arise. Ground resources consist of ground stations where the antennas which capture satellite signals are located. A satellite is visible to a ground station during a limited period of time (time window) called the satellite visibility period.