Multi-Agent Anomaly Resolution System (MaARS)

The goal of this effort is to develop the Multi-agent Anomaly Resolution System (MaARS), which will provide NASA with an Automated Fault Detection, Diagnostics and Recovery (AFDD-R) system assisting in maintaining the health of remote habitats during dormancy. Managing remote habitats, with limited earth support and limited communications such as the Artemis mission, will require novel approaches in which NASA maintains a habitat. Furthermore, remote habitats will be subject to extremely harsh operating conditions such as constant exposure to radiation, micrometeorites, lunar dust, and other hazards. To address these challenges MaARS will use machine learning models to provide advanced anomaly detection and resolution capabilities and use automated and robotic systems to recover from an anomaly. TRACLabs and Texas A&M University (TAMU) are well-placed to provide a solution to this topic and address the challenges associated with providing autonomous capabilities for AFDD-R. Both entities have long histories of developing and deploying software tools that make the remote operation of autonomous systems easier and more intuitive. TRACLabs and TAMU have also identified multiple customers both within and outside of NASA that would be interested in using the MaARS system to achieve their objectives.

MaARS ability to perform automatic fault detection, diagnosis, and resolution for a remote habitat will be of interest to NASA's Artemis (including Gateway) and OSAM missions. Future missions such as NASA's in-space Assembled Telescope and Orbital Debris Mitigation will also benefit from this effort. The work proposed on this effort will also have a near-term impact on ISS robots such as Astrobee, SSRMS, and Robonaut along with future Artemis lunar surface robots which include the LSMS, Chariot, and RASSOR platforms.

The proposed MaARS architecture will benefit several commercial customers and will be offered as an add-on to existing PRIDE customers. For example, Baker Hughes has already expressed interest in licensing some of the new capabilities being developed in previous related efforts. Existing space customer Sierra Nevada Corporation and other space companies interested in PRIDE will be offered MaARS.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.