Using ARES to Improve Efficiency in Satellite Operations

1
Using ARES to Improve Efficiency in Satellite
Operations

• Presented at the
• SpaceOps 2004 Conference
• 17-21 May 2004

D.M. Cruickshank A.J. Aparicio A.A.
Mistry B.R. Poynton
2
Why Was ARES Developed?

• Satellite engineers and operators often encounter
  challenges when developing operating procedures
• Spend valuable time learning a software type
  language
• Not everyone can effectively develop satellite
  procedures
• Looking for an easy way to translate satellite
  manufacturers paper procedures into more
  automated electronic procedures
• Satellite operators want a comprehensive, more
  interactive procedure platform
• Easy, straightforward user interface layout
• Clearly shows the procedures status
• Single window displays all relevant information

3
How ARES Addresses These Issues

• ARES users, such as New Skies Satellites, Loral
  Skynet, and Optus, can develop complex spacecraft
  procedures easily, quickly, and accurately
• Almost no learning curve is required to develop
  procedures
• The tools validate the procedures against the
  spacecraft database
• ARES mirrors the manufacturers paper procedure
  format, making monitoring easy and effective
• Uses a simple, ASCII, tab-delimited text format
• Uses a sequential step layout
• ARES displays everything needed to monitor the
  procedure in one execution GUI
• Eliminates the need to toggle between several
  different application windows during critical
  operations

4
ARES Structure

• ARES includes two separate, fully compatible
  tools
• Use the ARES Execution Shell to run procedures in
  real time
• Use the ARES Procedure Builder to edit and
  develop offline
• The user interface for both tools was developed
  using Tcl/TK (Tool Command Language/Toolkit)
• Tcl/TK is open source and widely available
• ARES procedures are simple, tab-delimited text
  files that map directly to the ARES GUI layout
• Although the ARES Procedure Builder tool is
  recommended for accuracy, procedures also can be
  opened in any text editor or other application,
  such as Excel

5
ARES Procedure Builder

• ARES Procedure Builder was developed to help
  eliminate potential errors during procedure
  creation and editing
• Before the ARES Procedure Builder, ARES
  procedures were created using Excel and/or
  various text editors
• Procedures could be prone to errors caused by
  manual text entry
• ARES Procedure Builders features keep the
  process as easy and as accurate as possible
• Has a convenient spreadsheet-type format
• Parallels the ARES Execution Shell layout
• Guides the user through the development
• Contains spacecraft-specific selection menus
• Presents information for selection, eliminating
  the possibility for typos

6
ARES Procedure Builder Overview
Main menu
Pick lists
Procedure information
Developing area. Each column is populated with
procedure contents
7
ARES Procedure Builder Operations

• While developing ARES procedures, the ARES
  Procedure Builder
• Offers familiar editing options
• Cut, copy, paste, insert, delete, etc.
• Provides complete selection menus for commands,
  telemetry, and function calls
• Notifies the user of invalid entries
• Flags any out-of-range argument entries in the
  command selection window
• Prevents conflicts, and maintains clarity
• Keeps telemetry checks, commands, and function
  calls on separate lines

8
ARES Command Menus

• The command selection window presents valid
  mnemonics with associated data word arguments and
  settings for each command
• Data word arguments must be correct and in range
  before they can be inserted into the procedure
• The valid range is indicated above each argument
  value

9
ARES Telemetry Menus

• The telemetry selection window displays all
  telemetry points and associated information
• Offers a variety of telemetry check options for
  the selected point

10
ARES Function Calls

• The function calls selection window displays all
  available ARES functions that can be inserted
• Add logic or flow control to tailor the
  procedures behavior
• The functions available can depend on the
  database selected

11
ARES Validation

• ARES Procedure Builder validates the procedure
  against the spacecraft database to ensure
  accuracy before saving it
• Any discrepancies are detailed
• Procedure commands and telemetry are validated
• Items in the validation window automatically are
  linked directly to the problem area in the
  procedure
• ARES Execution Shell includes this same
  validation process

12
ARES Execution Shell Overview
Main menu
Procedure info
Stream/Cmd info
Devices and settings
Procedure nesting and main step outline
Control buttons and messages
Procedure detail display with all commands and
live telemetry checks
Key telemetry points - health and status
Event messages
Input line
13
ARES Execution Shell

• The ARES Execution Shell clearly displays all
  ingredients essential for quick reference during
  procedure execution
• Stream selection indicator
• Current settings for devices and command flags
• Procedure ordered steps and text instructions
• All procedure telemetry real-time values
• All expected values of post-command telemetry
  changes
• Key telemetry point values indicating spacecraft
  health
• All commands and their associated arguments
• All procedure functions used for logic or flow
  control
• All nested sub-procedure calls
• All spacecraft stream event messages
• Input line to issue commands and ground system
  directives

14
ARES Execution Shell Operations

• While procedures are executing, ARES makes
  monitoring easy for operators by handling all
  critical actions
• Validates the procedure at the start to ensure
  accuracy
• Checks telemetry against the expected value
• Transmits commands in sequence between each pre-
  and post-telemetry check in the procedure
• Displays ALL EPOCH events coming in for the
  stream
• Performs any additional logic required for
  procedure flow based on user-specified function
  calls
• Notifies the operator of any failures
• Command transmission
• Telemetry checks
• Automatically stops the procedure for further
  investigation

15
ARES Execution Modes

• ARES offers several procedure execution modes to
  accommodate varying levels of automation in
  operations
• Needs change depending on ops philosophy and
  circumstances

 
16
New Skies Satellites and ARES

• New Skies Satellites, based in the Netherlands,
  uses ARES on their entire fleet of 6 spacecraft
  to
• Reduce procedure development time and cost
• Minimize controller interaction during execution,
  reducing potential error and saving time and
  money
• Respond more quickly and safely to unexpected
  spacecraft events
• Monitor procedure execution in real time
• Incorporate flow control and conditional logic
  ARES function calls, increasing efficiency

17
Loral Skynet and ARES

• Loral Skynet, a U.S. based fleet satellite
  operator, uses ARES to
• Automate ground system procedures to improve
  satellite operations
• Automate error checking to ensure accuracy
• Optionally automate or retain operator-interactive
  procedure control
• Reduce costs by eliminating mistakes and
  inefficiencies encountered using manual methods
• Save time and money by enabling operators to
  focus on satellite health and safety

18
Optus and ARES

• While using ARES, Optus, based in Australia, has
  adapted it to accommodate their own specific
  operational desires. Examples include
• Preferentially tailoring the ARES Execution Shell
  GUI layout
• Developing their own unique set of new functions
  to enhance flow control and add calculations
• Additionally, Optus uses ARES to
• Reduce procedure development time and cost, and
  reduce errors by reducing manual translation
• Automate error checking to ensure accuracy and
  reduce operational error
• Enable analysts, rather than programmers, to add
  procedure flow manually, saving time and money

19
Conclusion

• ARES offers operators, such as New Skies
  Satellites, Loral Skynet, and Optus, a
  comprehensive, yet easy solution for operators
  and engineers to develop and monitor complex
  satellite operations procedures
• ARES reduces procedure development time, error,
  and cost
• All ingredients essential for monitoring are
  presented clearly in one interface, increasing
  efficiency, response time, and potentially,
  spacecraft health and safety
• ARES makes automating more satellite operations
  procedures easy
• ARES many features improve the overall
  efficiency and accuracy of the procedure
  generation and execution processes in satellite
  operations