An Agent-Based Dynamic Model for Analysis of Distributed Space Exploration Architectures

Abstract

A range of complcx challenges, but also potentially unique rewards, underlie the development of exploration architectures that use a distributed, dynamic network of resources across the solar system. From a methodological perspective. the prime challenge is to systematically model the evolution (and quantify comparative perfonnance) of such architectures, under uncertainty, to effectively direct further study of specialized trajectories, spacecraft technologies, concept of operations. and resource allocation. A process model for System-of-Systems Engineering is used to define time-varying perfonnance measures for comparative architecture analysis and identification of distinguishing patterns among interopcrating systems. Agent-based modeling serves as the means to create a discrete-time simulation that generates dynamics for the study of architecture evolution. A Solar System Mobility Network proof-of-concept problem is introduced representing a set of longer-tenn. distributed exploration architectures. Options within this set revolve around deployment of human and robotic exploration and infrastructure assets, their organization, interoperability. and evolution, i.e., a system-of-systems. Agent-based simulations quantify relative payoffs for a fully distributed architecture (which can be significant over the long tenn). the latency period before they are manifest, and the up-front investment (which can be substantial compared to alternatives). Verification and sensitivity results provide further insight on development paths and indicate that the framework and simulation modeling approach may be useful in architectural design of other space exploration mass, energy. and infonnation exchange settings.

Effective Evolutionary Principles for System-of-Systems: Insights from Agent-Based Modeling in Vehicular Networks

“…These results were used by engineers to improve the design and management of SoSs. Furthermore, Sindiy and DeLaurentis et al modeled a distributed SoS and used an SoS to define timevarying performance metrics and an agent-based model to simulate the evolution of these architectures [43], while Nikolic and Dijkema used ABM techniques to model industrial and infrastructural development in seaport areas, combining the feedback of knowledge processes with SoS evolution simulation [44]. While ABMs are beginning to be used for SoSrelated research, there have been few efforts to improve SoS theory-related aspects [36].…”

A Systematic Mapping on Executable Models for the Architectural Design of Systems-of-Systems

“…(s1) [Teixeira et al 2020], (s2) [Binder et al 2019], (s3) [Manzano et al 2019], (s4) [Beery et al 2019], (s5) [Graciano Neto et al 2018b], (s6) [Zhang et al 2018], (s7) [Graciano Neto et al 2018a], (s8) [Zhuang et al 2018], (s9) [Esmaeilzadeh et al 2018], (s10) [Dahmann et al 2017], (s11) [Graciano Neto et al 2017], (s12) [Silva et al 2017], (s13) [Hachem et al 2016], (s14) [Oquendo et al 2016], (s15) [Li et al 2013], (s16) [Yousefi and Levis 2016], (s17) [Arnold et al 2016], (s18) [Spichkova et al 2015], (s19) [Li et al 2016b], (s20) [Wang et al 2015], (s21) [Cavalcante 2015], (s22) [Wätzoldt and Giese 2015], (s23) [Perišić et al 2015], (s24) [Hu et al 2014], (s25) [Hsu et al 2014], (s26) [Rieckmann et al 2013], (s27) [Ge et al 2013], (s28) [Li et al 2013], (s29) [Ludwig et al 2011], (s30) [Wang and Dagli 2011], (s31) [Xiong et al 2010], (s32) [Garcia and Tolk 2010], (s33) [Sindiy et al 2009], (s34) [Robbins 2009], (s35) [Rao et al 2008]. We answer the raised research questions, as follows.…”

“…Architectural evaluation and synthesis was explored in (24/35) studies [Arnold et al 2016, Beery et al 2019, Dahmann et al 2017, Esmaeilzadeh et al 2018, Garcia and Tolk 2010, Graciano Neto et al 2018a, Graciano Neto et al 2018b, Hu et al 2014, Li et al 2013, Li et al 2016a, Ludwig et al 2011, Manzano et al 2019, Oquendo et al 2016, Rao et al 2008, Rieckmann et al 2013, Robbins 2009, Sindiy et al 2009, Teixeira et al 2020, Wang et al 2015, Wang and Dagli 2011, Xiong et al 2010, Yousefi and Levis 2016, Zhang et al 2018, Zhuang et al 2018. Several studies presented new methods to perform architectural design using ExM via synthesis of the architecture using model transformation from static notations such as UML, SysML SoaML and DoDAF to ExM notations in an automatically or manually approach.…”

“…It has a visual notation where the user can specify the architecture using semantic blocks that represent action. Other studies also explored ABS but it did not informed its formalism (2/35) [Esmaeilzadeh et al 2018, Sindiy et al 2009]. In fact, (14/35) studies did not informed the used notation [Beery et al 2019, Cavalcante 2015, Esmaeilzadeh et al 2018, Sindiy et al 2009, Spichkova et al 2015.…”

“…al. 2018, Garcia and Tolk 2010, Ge et al 2013, Graciano Neto et al 2017, Hachem et al 2016, Hsu et al 2014, Hu et al 2014, Manzano et al 2019, Oquendo et al 2016, Perišić et al 2015, Robbins 2009, Silva et al 2017, Sindiy et al 2009, Wang et al 2015, Wang and Dagli 2011. Quality Attribute Analysis was also highly explored (10/35)[Hu et al 2014, Perišić et al 2015, Rieckmann et al 2013, Sindiy et al 2009, Spichkova et al 2015, Wang et al 2015, Wang and Dagli 2011, Xiong et al 2010, Zhang et al 2018, Zhuang et al 2018].…”