SBIR-STTR Award

The objective of the proposed effort in Phase I is to assess the feasibility of developing an automated method that both models satellite architectures and constellation descriptions to minimize deployment costs as well as estimates space system costs based on the system requirements. This model must be applied before the design phase for the system so that the cost implications of the given requirement can be established. The approach employed in Achieving this objective involves the use of a non-linear constrained optimization technique to balance cost and operation requirements in a manner which minimizes cost to achieve a given level of mission effectiveness. A case study will be conducted to assess the feasibility of applying this technique to a complex mission, enabling an investigation of the complexity of the problem by developing mathematical relationships and a prototype of the tool. The model will consist of large number of relationships which relate mission requirements, performance requirements, design characteristics and cost to each other.

The objective of the proposed Phase II effort is to complete development of an automated method that models satellite architectures and constellation descriptions to minimize costs as well as estimate deployment costs based on the system requirements. The feasibility of the concept was demonstrated in Phase I. In Phase II, the prototype tool will be enhanced in three ways to make it useful operationally: improving the man/machine interface to allow a user to better formulate problems, evolve solutions and understand results; by development of three design/cost modules in addition to the space based radar module developed in Phase I; and the development of an open software architecture permitting other technologies and applications to be readily incorporated and solved. Four tasks will be conducted: software architecture design; design/cost module development; software development of the user interface and assistance; and integration and test.