FUTURISTIC SOFTWARE DEMONSTRATED ON DEEP
SPACE 1 WINS NASA AWARD
August 6, 1999
Remote Agent, the first artificial intelligence software in history to command a
spacecraft, recently was named co-winner of NASA's 1999 Software of the Year award. Remote
Agent shared the honor with Genoa, a software package that can predict aging and failure
of materials, including those used in airplanes, cars, engines and bridges.
Award winners, judged on innovation, impact and usability, were selected from a
field of 50 entries representing more than 150 corporations, universities and government
laboratories.
NASA scientists say the Remote Agent artificial intelligence used on NASA's Deep
Space 1 is the precursor for self-aware, self-controlled and self-operated robots,
exploring rovers and intelligent machines.
Over three days last May, Remote Agent controlled Deep Space 1, a feat
previously accomplished only in science fiction. The software package took command of Deep
Space 1 during a flight experiment, and the artificial intelligence more than met
expectations. The software detected, diagnosed and fixed problems, showing that it can
make decisions to keep a mission on track.
"This technology will allow us to pursue Solar System exploration missions
that only a few years ago would have been considered too elaborate, too costly or too
dependent on teams of Earth-bound controllers," said Dr. Doug Bernard, Remote Agent
manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.
"The Remote Agent approach to spacecraft autonomy signals the dawn of a new
era in space exploration," said Dr. Pandu Nayak, deputy manager of Remote Agent
development the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. "Remote Agent will
enable new classes of missions and more effective use of existing resources, and it will
enable today's ground operations teams to operate significantly more missions."
Remote Agent and its components are already being considered for a variety of NASA
missions, he said.
Experts from JPL and Ames pooled their expertise to conduct the Remote Agent
experiment, designed to push the limits of spacecraft autonomy. Their efforts proved that
this sophisticated artificial intelligence software is capable of commanding the
spacecraft with "high-level" goals, such as "communicate with the Earth on
the agreed-upon schedule" or "fire the main engine as needed to stay on the
desired trajectory."
To demonstrate Remote Agent's versatility, the tests threw unique challenges in
the software's path: scientists created four simulated failures designed to test Remote
Agent's abilities. During one of the simulated failures, the spacecraft's camera appeared
to be stuck in the "on" position. In response, Remote Agent formulated and
executed a new plan that accounted for the fact that the camera could not be turned off,
thus impacting total spacecraft power availability.
An Internet web page contains the log of events from Deep Space 1 during the
ambitious artificial intelligence test: http://rax.arc.nasa.gov/
Launched October 24, 1998, Deep Space 1 has validated 12 new technologies,
including Remote Agent, so scientists can confidently use them during science missions of
the 21st century. The project has exceeded all of its technology validation success
criteria.
The other software co-winner, is Genoa, a Progressive Failure Analysis Software
System developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland, OH. Genoa
is used to model aging and failure in structural materials, including high-tech alloys and
ceramics.
The event is cosponsored by the NASA Inventions and Contributions Board and the
NASA Chief Information Officer. NASA officials will officially present the awards at
special ceremonies later this year. Information about the winning team and other finalists
is available from: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codei/swy99win.html
Remote Agent was developed at JPL and at the NASA Ames Research Center. Deep
Space 1 is managed for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC, by JPL, a division
of the California Institute of Technology. JPL is a division of the California Institute
of Technology, Pasadena, CA.
