In situ method and system for autonomous fault detection, isolation and

Abstract

A fault identification, isolation and fault recovery system autonomously controls spacecraft operational systems. A fault detection and isolation module monitors the operational systems, identifies faults via such monitoring and attempts to isolate component causing the fault. Isolation may constitute a plurality of hierarchically arranged techniques that enhance speed and maximize the likelihood of identifying a correct hypothesis regarding the actual failure. The fault isolation and fault recovery modules are bounded by a severe fault override module which places the spacecraft operational systems in a safe mode or state. Thus, the override module ensures rapid entry into the safe mode while preventing an erroneous hypothesis serviced by the fault recovery module from driving the system beyond acceptable limits. A high level command processor receives command sequences from remote ground support stations and from the on-board fault recovery module. A ground based test bed attached to a ground support systems is used to generate verified high level fault recovery scripts before and during a mission to bolster fault recovery capabilities.