Events Calendar

Astronautical Engineering (ASTE) - Seminar

Speaker: Prof. Jonathan Black, Virginia Tech

Talk Title: Autonomy and Machine Learning in Space and Space Domain Awareness

Abstract: As resident space object populations grow, and satellite propulsion capabilities improve, it is becoming increasingly challenging for space-reliant nations to maintain space situational awareness using current human-in-the-loop methods. This presentation describes several real-time adaptive approaches to autonomous sensor network management for tracking multiple maneuvering and non-maneuvering satellites with a diversely populated Space Object Surveillance and Identification network. The methods integrate suboptimal Partially Observed Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs) with covariance inflation or multiple model adaptive estimation techniques to task sensors and maintain viable orbit estimates for all targets. Like in real-world situations, the population of target satellites vastly outnumbers the available set of sensors. Robust and adaptable tasking algorithms are needed in this scenario to determine how and when sensors should be tasked. The strategies successfully track hundreds of non-maneuvering and maneuvering spacecraft using only dozens of ground and space-based sensors. The results show that multiple model adaptive estimation coupled with a multi-metric, suboptimal POMDP can effectively and efficiently task a diverse network of sensors to track multiple maneuvering spacecraft, while simultaneously monitoring a large number of non-maneuvering objects. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential for autonomous and adaptable sensor network command and control for real-world space situational awareness.

Biography: Professor, Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering; Director, Aerospace and Ocean Systems Laboratory; Virginia Tech

Host: Astronautical Engineering - Mike Gruntman

More Information: 2019_03_29_ASTE-Seminar_Prof-Black_flier.pdf

Location: Vivian Hall of Engineering (VHE) - 217

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Mike Gruntman