Expert System Technology For The Space Station Communications And Tracking System

This paper describes Harris research into the use of Expert System technology for the management of the Communications and Tracking System for the Space Station. Harris Corporation has developed the CAMERA (Control and Monitoring Equipment Resource Allocation) Expert System Under a NASA contract with JSC to minimize crew workload in managing the communications of the Space Station. It provides for automatic management of communications resources, diagnosis of faults, and reconfiguration to restore communications automatically. The system utilizes a state-of-the-art man-machine interface to allow high level end-to-end service requests. The expert system interprets the requests, determines the equipment required to implement the service, and assigns the appropriate equipment to the service. The expert system then establishes the service automatically at the time requested and monitors the operation of the simulated system to diagnose faults and determine the appropriate procedures to restore the service. A graphical design tool allows the operator to define new services from existing service primitives. Graphical, hierarchical equipment schematics support both the simulation of faults as well as the diagnostic process. Symbolic models for the equipment and measurements are represented in an object-oriented manner.