EXPERT ABOARD: AN ON-BOARD CONSULTANT SYSTEM FOR SATELLITE REPAIR

WE PROPOSE TO CONSTRUCT AN EXPERT SYSTEM WHICH CAN IDENTIFY ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRO-MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS IN SPACE. THE PROGRAMS, EXPERT ABOARD, WILL BE FULLY PORTABLE. IT WILL DRAW UPON A DATABASE OF GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES, SPECIFIC DEVICE KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE SYSTEM UNDER TEST. IT WILL INTERACT WITH A MISSION SPECIALIST AT THE SATELLITE OR IN THE SPACE STATION TO AID IN THE REPAIR OF THE DOWNED SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM WILL TAKE INFORMATION FROM INTELLIGENT INSTRUMENTATION AND THE RESPONSES BY THE MISSION SPECIALIST TO FOCUSED QUESTIONS. IT WILL USE HEURISTIC SEARCH TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE TIME FORFAULT ISOLATION AND INCREASE THE SPEED AND ACCURACY OF REPAIRS. IT WILL ANALYZE SYMPTOMS, PROVIDE SPECIALISTS WITHPOSSIBLE AND PROBABLE FAULT CAUSES, SUGGEST LEAST PATH SOLUTIONS, AND EXHIBIT ITS REASONING WHEN QUESTIONED. IT WILL BE CAPABLE OF ADDING NEW SYMPTOMS, RULES, KNOWLEDGE, AND REASONING TO ITS KNOWLEDGE BASE. PHASE I WILL STUDY THEFEASIBILITY OF THE IDEA AND WILL CONSTRUCT A MODEL CONSULTANT PROGRAM BASED ON A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE SUBSYSTEM. PHASE II WILL ANALYZE AND DEVELOP EXPERT ABROAD INTO A TRUE EXPERT SYSTEM.