Abstract
The four key objective properties of a system that are required of it in order for it to qualify as “autonomic” are now well-accepted—self-configuring, self-healing, self-protecting, and self-optimizing—together with the attribute properties—viz. self-aware, environment-aware, self-monitoring and self-adjusting. This paper describes the need for next generation system software architectures, where components are agents, rather than objects masquerading as agents, and where support is provided for self-* properties (both existing self-chop and emerging self-* properties). These are discussed as exhibited in NASA missions, and in particular with reference to a NASA concept mission, ANTS, which is illustrative of future NASA exploration missions based on the technology of intelligent swarms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 48-57 |
| Journal | Science of Computer Programming |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2006 |
Bibliographical note
Other Details------------------------------------
This paper reports on some of the activity from a visiting research position with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (2004-present) concerned with investigating Autonomic and Autonomous Systems. It specifically focuses on using autonomic/self-managing swarm approaches (ANTS-Autonomous Nano-Technology Swarm) for next generation non-human exploration missions to the moon, Mars, Saturn's rings and the Asteroid Belt, examining the challenges this level of self-direction and self-management pose for future computer-based systems and architectures. This work has resulted in 7 joint (with NASA) patent-pending technologies, joint journal and book publications, and involvement in 8 NASA Autonomic related events.
Keywords
- Keywords: Self-*
- Selfware
- Autonomous systems
- Autonomic systems
- Agent architectures
- Multi-agent technology
- Intelligent systems
- Spacecraft
