In-Situ Site Knowledge System [Mars technology program]

In support of the transition from human-based in-situ mission operations to automated smart operations, the mission simulation and instrument modeling group at JPL has been developing a progressive in-situ automation framework. The In-Situ Site Knowledge System (ISSKS) presented in this paper is the first phase of the automation framework, which addresses flexible virtual site construction, instrument-generic measurement simulation, and intelligent operation service agents. The ISSKS is developed in three tiers. The first tier is composed of site property modeling and synthesis, for construction of a virtual in-situ environment. The second tier is composed of sensor system models and mobility platform models, for simulating in-situ exploration and science data products. The third tier is the operation interface, supporting the mobility platform simulation clients with surface interaction and operation planning activity clients with the observed site phenomena. The ISSKS currently supports several research tasks under the Mars technology program including the Smart Landing Systems, the Advanced EDL (Entry, Descent, and Landing), and the Rover technology.