Automated planning for interferometer configuration and control

In this paper, we discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) planning and scheduling technology and its application to interferometer configuration and control. Scientific demand and technical requirements necessitate streamlining and optimizing the operation of these instruments. However, it is difficult, often impossible, to achieve this streamlining manually. Moreover, harsh operating environments make manual operation impractical, further motivating the use of automation. We describe the use of the ASPEN automated planning system developed at JPL to demonstrate how planning can be used to perform many operation tasks with many benefits over manual operations. Automated planners can rapidly produce large command sequences. In addition, repairing altered plans is very fast and can be used to respond to unforeseen events.