Autonomous Inspection with a Free-Flyer – How can Nature help solve this problem?
George Studor – NASA Engineering and Safety Center
Robotic Spaceflight and Non-Destructive Evaluation Technical Discipline Teams
Abstract:
Human Spaceflight has been plagued with expected and unexpected issues that would have been helped by inspection capability. These inspection needs will be multiplied many times over as commercial crewed spacecraft begin their initial flights to the International Space Station(ISS) in 2019 and 2020, NASA’s Orion spacecraft begins its flights outside of Low Earth Orbit(LEO) in 2020, NASA works with DOD to provide satellite servicing in Geosynchronous Orbit(GEO), NASA evaluates extending the life of the ISS to 2030 or beyond and then looks to establish the Gateway Space Station near Earth’s moon. The presentation will cover the background and motivation, inspection fundamentals that must be accomplished as well as autonomous functionality desired. Taking advantage of industry needs, explosion of uses for drones, NASA and other agency programs and facilities will also be discussed. A plan for testing autonomous inspection sensors and methods inside the ISS using the new “Astrobee” platform will then be presented.
The path to Autonomous Inspection with a Free-Flying Spacecraft involves new systems, sensors and operations concepts that could benefit from the way animals perform similar critical functions for their survival. How Nature might solve some of the aspects of autonomous inspection is a challenge which NASA introduced at the 2018 NASA VINE Biocene Conference. The VINE Systemology Cluster follow-on activity and the results of the 2018 NASA SpaceApps Challenge involving 75 countries and 168 project ideas will be discussed. The talk will hopefully generate more thinking at the NSWG as to how to use existing Bio-inspired design tools to find ways Nature’s solutions can improve our approach to autonomous inspection.
Background: Mr. George Studor is a recently retired NASA senior project engineer. Now a consultant for technology applications supporting JSC Image Science and Analysis team branch in inspection of Re-Entry Thermal Protection Systems for ISS Visiting Vehicles. George also supports the NASA Engineering and Safety Center on three technical discipline teams(TDTs): NDE—In-Space Inspection, Avionics—Wireless Community of Practice, and Robotic Spacecraft— adding Natural Systems to Systems Engineering Process. In January 2013, the International Council on Systems Engineering approved George’s proposal to begin a Natural Systems Working Group.
Oct 31, 2013 – Present – Aerospace Engineering Consultant
NASA Engineering and Safety Center – Analytical Mechanics Associates
1995-2013 - NASA/JSC: Structures, Avionics Eng, & Technology Offices
1993-1995 - NASA/Montana State University, Adjunct Prof. in M. E. and Senior Projects
1990-1993 - NASA/HQ/Manager, Space Station Freedom Verification Program
1983-1990 - NASA/JSC/Space Shuttle Program SE&I, NSTS Program Plans & Schedules
1987-1999 - AF Reserve AFRL, Flt Dynamics Laboratory - Retired Major
1972-1987 - Active Duty, USAF C-130 Pilot (2,000 hours), then USAF Detailee at NASA/JSC
1981-1982 - MS Astronautical Engineering, USAF Air Force Institute of Technology
1972-1976 - BS Astronautical Engineering, USAF Academy, CO
George.f.studor@nasa.gov; gmstudor@gmail.com; (281) 415-3986(cell)