QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD, A System For Autonomous Operations And Health Management of Gateway

sci_Zone and John Hopkins University are proposing QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD, a system for Vehicle Health Management and Fault Detection with Fault Classification Functions. QuickSAT, a flight proven environment, is the framework containing the SHERLOCK-MD architecture providing edge-capable AI, sensing suite integration and vehicle tracking functions that are tied with the vehicle fault management system perceiving rapidly potential faults that might occur. SHERLOCK-MD ties into on-edge sensing suites plus on-board fault monitoring systems and vehicle health data building an internal knowledge base for event/fault classification. This data is fed into a preliminary analysis system designed to extract key features. This takes the form of anomaly detection or binary/multi-class status checks. SHERLOCK-MD relies on a system built on the Security Risk Taxonomy for Commercial Space Missions. By comparing symptoms evident in the data analysis with a historical database of faults and events, the diagnostic produces a set of likely candidates for mission and/or experiment failure and propose appropriate action. SHERLOCK-MD has the ability to feed directly into the decision support module of the incident-response architecture. Phase I shall focus on development of algorithms/code classifying detected faults using different satellite datasets, conduct a comprehensive comparative assessment, provide a detailed concept for autonomy technology to support Gateway operations including visiting vehicles and experiments, trade study of recommended supporting hardware, and a baseline demonstration of QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD.

QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD NASA applications include the Lunar Gateway itself, support for experiments on-board the Lunar Gateway, and use on Lunar Gateway visiting vehicles. QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD can be applied to future missions to Mars, deep space missions and even remote sensing satellites orbiting the Earth – essentially any mission requiring Vehicle Health Management and Fault Detection with Fault Classification Functions.

QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD has broad applications over a wide range of commercial, defense and research based vehicles. QuickSAT/SHERLOCK-MD and supporting algorithms can be integrated to a range of other assets in addition to satellites, such as aircraft, watercraft, and ground vehicles providing to the asset a means for rapid fault detection, classification and assessment.

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.

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