PhD Study : MAARRS: Multi-Agent Autonomic Robot/Rover Swarms

Summary

Inspired by the NASA ANTS (Autonomous Nano Technology Swarms) concept mission, to research and contribute how the Autonomic Computing paradigm may assist in this vision. NASA’s Exploration Initiative (EI) and other research will push space exploration missions to the limit. Future missions will be required to be self-managing (autonomicity) as well as self-directed (autonomy), in order to meet the challenges of human and robotic space exploration.

The aim of this project is the investigation and creation of effective autonomic and autonomous systems for SES (space exploration systems) utilizing bio-inspired approaches such as Swarms. Deep space presents numerous hazards and harsh conditions for remote exploration missions, which must often operate autonomously without intervention from Earth. To increase the survivability of the remote missions, NASA is exploiting principles and techniques that help such systems become more resilient through self-management and automatic adaptation. By adhering to the principles of autonomic computing, contemporary spacecraft systems implement vital features for unmanned missions, such as self-configuration, self-healing, self-optimization, and self-protection.

Moreover, biologically inspired approaches target new classes of space exploration missions that use swarm intelligence and swarm cooperation to achieve extremely robust systems. Swarm-based systems comprise thousands of small spacecraft working together to explore places in deep space where a single and monolith spacecraft is impractical. However, developing such systems—from conceptualization to validation—is a complex multidisciplinary activity, and reliability and safety are key objectives.

The systems can’t exhibit post-release faults or failures that could jeopardize the mission or cause loss of life. They integrate complex hardware and sophisticated software and thus require careful design and thorough testing to ensure adequate reliability. Moreover, aerospace systems have strict dependability and real-time requirements; need flexible resource reallocation; and must be limited in size, weight, and power consumption.

Context:

This project will be linked in with existing work and projects in the area including further developing a completed PhD [5].Roy Sterritt has been a visiting researcher with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center since 2004 and currently has 16 patents with NASA and 75+ joint publications with NASA.  Roy also was founding member of the ADS NI Space Strategy Steering Group which then established the ADS NI Space Special Interest Group.

References:

Vassev, Emil, Sterritt, Roy, Rouff, Christopher and Hinchey, Mike (2012) Swarm Technology at NASA: Building Reslient Systems. IT Professional, 14 (2). pp. 36-422.

Hinchey, MG, Sterritt, Roy and Rouff, C (2007) Swarms and Swarm Intelligence. IEEE Computer, 40 (4). pp. 111-1133.

Hinchey, Michael, Rash, James, Truszkowski, Walter, Rouff, Christopher, Sterritt, Roy, “Autonomous and Autonomic Swarms”, NASA Technical Report, 2005, http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20050210015_2005210113.pdf4.

Swarm Intelligence for Future Space Probes, by Paul Gilster,  2nd DECEMBER 2004, http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=2925.

Saunders, Catherine, Sterritt, Roy and Wilkie, George (2016) Autonomic Cooperation Strategies for Robot Swarms. In: Adaptive 2016: he Eighth International Conference on Adaptive and Self-Adaptive Systems and Applications, Rome, Italy. IARIA. 7 pp.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living