Decision Methods for Non-Tethered Deep Space Interferometry

This paper examines decision methods applied to a distributed system that must operate collaboratively to achieve a common objective and tolerate partial system failure, necessitating structural reorganization. The problem addressed is controlled and cooperative action of multiple physical agents in a space environment, tasked with forming an interferometer, maximizing the interferometer lifetime by staged placement of resources and maintaining optimality in the presence of individual agent failures. Whilst a seemingly niche application, the methods developed and analyzed are equally valid for any multiple-physical agent system such as UAVs or AUVs. Centralized optimization methods will be applied to form decisions in addition to a distributed contract-net like decision method, wherein an auction system is adopted to form group decisions. These methods are investigated for the practicality of applying such methods to an engineering system.