PIGI (Predictive Interactive Groundstation Interface) is
a software suite designed to better manage the massive amount of telemetry data
streaming to and from a satellite network. The software will incorporate artificial
intelligence to predict spacecraft behavior and detect pending failures in order to
reduce the demands on human operators.
Current groundstations must represent hundreds of data items to controllers who have limited time to analyze them and make decisions. Data represented is often non-intuitive, cryptic, and time consuming to interpret. Saber Astronautics aims to streamline the system by using intelligent and ergonomic representation of spacecraft health and welfare telemetry. It will conduct inference analysis based on statistics and present it in a fashion most useful to groundstation controllers.
PIGI consists of two parts: a Graphic User Interface (GUI) front-end, and a software-driven backend to conduct predictive analysis. The GUI will display statistically meaningful data to assist controllers in inferring, diagnosing, and predicting spacecraft behavior. One of the most important benefits of the PIGI system lies in its ability to reveal nominal spacecraft conditions at a glance- greatly improving controller reaction time during error conditions.
Hive networks will use wireless technology to replace
much of the heavy copper wiring presently used on spacecraft. Saber Astronautics robust
Hive-ISP system will not only be immune to radiation and noise, but will offer superior
design flexibility and cost savings over wired systems.
Saber Astronautics proposes an architecture for intra-spacecraft RF wireless data and command communications that extends the Hive distributed computing framework developed at MIT's Media Laboratory. Initial research will follow an Architecture First Approach consisting of cross-functional systems engineering, architectural formulation and modeling, trade study, and proof-of-concept all with the goal of demonstrating the viability of a proximity network infrastructure to provide rapid integration with spacecraft subsystems and reduce reliance on electrical wiring.
Hive Intra-Spacecraft Proximity Network (Hive-IPN) will consist of networked cells and distributed agents operating in the unlicensed ISM radio band. Hive-IPN will allow the transmission of telemetry, command interface services, and internal Quality of Service (QoS) metrics. Hive-IPN implementation will be based on simple network management strategies and employ standards-based protocols and technologies.
The resulting architectural blueprint from Phase I research will include the design for command and data handling (C&DH) as well as a wireless appliance adapter. The design will also include the integration of platform subsystem components and represent a balanced trade-off between mass, coverage area, power consumption, and system capabilities. In addition, the design will use either spread-spectrum frequency hopping or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) to provide EMI/RFI isolation in the radiation-intense environment of space.
Initial results from PIGI simulations created an unexpected spinoff through
collaboration with the video game and education communities. Conquest of the
Milky Way (CoW) is a Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) which uses the
gameplay as a tool to directly educate the players in scientific, engineering,
and mathematical methods. Geared for high school and undergraduates, each
player is the leader of a young space faring society, starting with a single
colony at a random star system in the known Milky Way. They grow a colonial
empire by improving technology, economy, and military. The greater the player
learns about different fields- astrodynamics, biology, geology, etc., the more
capable the civilization becomes. Players experience the transition from early
spaceflight to modern spaceflight, to future spaceflight and colonization, and
finally to the edge of scientific possibility with interstellar flight.
Saber Astronautics is also organizing experts from NASA and the aerospace
industry that will assist students as in-game tutors. CoW provides:
A creative, cooperative, fun, competitive and highly interactive teaching tool for science, technology, engineering, and math (i.e., STEM).
Students of all socio-economic backgrounds with direct access to experienced people in the space and science industries.
Motivation for students towards career paths in science, technology, and engineering.
Metrics for comparing students across the country using game performance.
A fundraising opportunity for profit, non-profit, and academic organizations.
CoW is based on three principles: fun, realism, and education.
FUN: Space strategy combat, civilization building, and economy in a rich 3-D interplanetary environment.
REALISM: Movements use true orbital mechanics played in the known Milky Way (Hipparchus catalogue). Players will be able to use space weather and spectroscopy to strategize their actions. Space environments will affect gameplay. New science discoveries in the real world will be updated in the game.
EDUCATION: The more a player learns, the more capable their colonial empire. Difficulty increases with technology level in each research area. Players can specialize learning in areas of their own interest, for balanced gameplay. Background material and in-game help by industry experts will supplement technology training sessions.
