NASA: Artificial Intelligence for New Generation Space Communications

©naftemporiki.gr “Modern space communication systems use complex software to support scientific and exploratory missions,” says Zanet Briones, lead researcher on this project at …

NASA’s spacecrafts are generally based on human-controlled wireless systems to communicate with Earth – but as the volume of data grows, the US space agency is turning to a new technology, the so-called cognitive radio that uses artificial intelligence on space communication networks  to meet needs and improve performance.

“Modern space communications systems use complex software to support scientific and exploratory missions,

says Zanet Briones, lead researcher at the Glenn Research Center project.

“By applying artificial intelligence and machine learning, satellites control these systems seamlessly, making decisions in real time without waiting for instructions“.

To understand the way cognitive radio works, in a NASA relevant announcement an example of terrestrial communications is used: In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocates parts of the electromagnetic spectrum used for telecommunications to various users -for example in the mobile telephony, satellite communications, etc.- as if we had a certain number of “faucets” that get water from the basic water supply.

What cognitive radio does is to use artificial intelligence to exploit under-used portions of the electromagnetic spectrum without human intervention – with cognitive radio being able to use many “faucets” when their normal users do not use them (until they do it again). Essentially , it goes from one “white spot” to another once they become available.

“We envision these technologies to make our communication networks more efficient and resilient for missions in the depths of space. Incorporating artificial intelligence and cognitive radio systems into our networks, we will increase the efficiency, autonomy and reliability of space communications systems,

says Briones. Noteworthy, for NASA, an important issue is space weather (electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and other celestial bodies) as it brings up challenges that this technology could face. In the future, such systems could even learn to close themselves to avoid radiation damage during “bad” space weather.

Source: www.naftemporiki.gr