Developing onboard abilities to control and task unmanned vehicles (UxVs) and swarms of UxVs is key to both wider use of systems. Herein, the authors develop and apply a probabilistic reasoning framework for UxVs. The reasoning system considers tasks, in this case search and rescue, based on both prior knowledge and sensor feedback. The approach considered is an imperative program to generate situation de-scriptions and decision problems as probabilistic, declarative programs. This operation replaces human tasking of UxVs. Results indicate a significant decrease in swarm fuel usage when compared to manned tasking of assets for the same task..
Autonomous machines promise to reduce the workload of human operators by replacing some or all cognitive functions with intelligent software. However, development is retarded by disagreement among researchers at very basic levels, including what is meant by autonomy and how to achieve it. Clear definitions are few and no one has successfully bridged the gap between philosophical notions and engineering methods. A variety of autonomy measures are reviewed, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Various researchers have developed these autonomy measures to facilitate discussions of capabilities. These measures are also a means of comparing and contrasting autonomy approaches. We contend that any properly structured set of measures are not only useful for these functions, but it provides both a philosophical and practical justification, it outlines developmental steps, it suggests schematic constraints, and it implies requirements for tests. As such, we make recommendations for the further developments of autonomy measures.
A face recognition methodology employing an efficient fusion hierarchy for hyperspectral imagery (HSI) is presented. A Matlab-based graphical user interface (GUI) is developed to aid processing, track performance and to display results. The incorporation of adaptive feedback loops enhance performance through the reduction of candidate subjects in the gallery as well as the injection of additional probe images during the matching process. Algorithmic results and performance improvements are presented as spatial, spectral, and temporal effects are utilized in this Qualia Exploitation of Sensor Technology (QUEST) motivated methodology.
The mechanics of deployable space structures are examined through ground based testing to predict the structures' deployment in a microgravity environment. In order to simulate the microgravity conditions a test article would experience in space, a method of counteracting the loads and deflections induced by gravity is required. This is accomplished through various gravity off-loading methods, which introduce forces opposite and equal to the force of gravity acting upon a test article throughout its deployment. Current gravity off-loading methods are passive rail-cart systems with their movement forced due to their physical coupling with a test article; this introduces unwanted boundary conditions, such as inertia and side-loading from a test article's transverse movement. Therefore, an active gravity off-loading method is being developed that will deploy simultaneously with a test article. This method employs motorized carts with active position control based upon the lead angle of the off-loading cable. The maximum allowable lead angle is designed to be ±5°, with the intention of minimizing the forcing of the carts' longitudinal deployment. System dynamics and kinematics analytical modeling is derived. Simulated system results from the analytical system model and preliminary results from the prototype are presented.
Conference Committee Involvement (10)
Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XVII
23 April 2024 | National Harbor, Maryland, United States
Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XVI
2 May 2023 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XV
4 April 2022 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XIV
12 April 2021 | Online Only, Florida, United States
Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XIII
27 April 2020 | Online Only, California, United States
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