Prototype Knowledge-Based System for Satellite Mission Planning

摘要

The growing complexity of modern artificial satellites and limited resources available for satellite operations has caused satellited mission planning to become a data intensive job which overwhelms mission planners. The purpose of this thesis was to determin feasibility of using Artifical Intelligence techniques, specifically knowledge-based systems, in satelllite misison planning. Research was conducted to determine the type of knowledge representation that best accommodates data intensive problem domains. Using this basis, a prototype knowledge-based system for use on a microcomputer was deisnged, constructed, and evaluated. The satellilte schedule was generated bsed on prioritized user requirements, the requirements' acquisitions, and available resources. Explanations were provided to enable the mission planner to understand how the schedure was generated and allow him to make changes as user requirements change. The prototype systems showed that a knowledge-based systems can assist the mission planner in scheduling satellite operations. This establishes a base form which more research can be done to help determine the optimal environment required to support an operational mission planning knowledge-based system.