Autonomy at Levels for Spacecraft

TL;DR

This paper discusses a comprehensive approach to embedding autonomy throughout a spacecraft's systems using Systems Engineering methods, emphasizing distributed autonomy elements at all decomposition levels.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for integrating autonomy elements across all spacecraft systems and levels, promoting a holistic and embedded autonomy architecture.

Findings

Autonomy elements can be integrated at all levels of spacecraft systems.

Linking control and autonomy loops enhances system autonomy.

Distributed autonomy improves spacecraft resilience and flexibility.

Abstract

Autonomy at Levels is the idea that autonomy should be embedded within and throughout a spacecraft. Using Systems Engineering methods a spacecraft is typically decomposed into systems, subsystems, assemblies, components, and so on. All these decomposition levels within all the spacecraft's systems, could and should have autonomy elements built in. As a result, the "autonomy system" is made of autonomy elements or units that are integrated, distributed and embedded within the whole spacecraft. This is like how the power system would be designed and implemented. Linking control loops and autonomy loops illustrates how to achieve Autonomy at Levels.