Progressive autonomy: a method for gradually introducing autonomy into space missions

We present a method under development for introducing autonomy and agent-based software into future space and ground-based missions while both reducing the risk of mission failures and gaining the confidence and support of mission management and principal investigators (PIs). This is being done by using a mechanism to support dynamic agent-community evolution (e.g., agents adapting to community changes, agents joining a community or agents leaving a community). This dynamic capability of agents is necessary to achieve what we call "progressive autonomy", which allows the gradual introduction of autonomy and agent technology into missions without having to commit to the technology from the start. It will also allow the dynamic modification of satellite systems using agent migration to update and modify spacecraft capabilities on an as-needed basis, as well as allow the introduction of mission management and autonomy into existing missions.