Vision Integration Systems - Company Proprietary
Introduction
NASA's immense Constellation Program (CxPO) covers a broad range
of focused architecture trades and analysis for multiple vehicles and missions.
This presents a major challenge to those tasked to evaluate the big
picture view across the broad system of systems. This challenge falls
particularly upon the CxPO Architecture Trades & Analysis team (ATA). For
example we understand there have been many models or tools used to support
DAC1. This paper is Vision Systems' proposed design description for an
immersive architecture trades presentation program, called SIMConstellation
Architecture Viewer. It is intended to allow presenting architecture
trades at a level that is more clear and useful than the current use of
PowerPoint as a presentation tool.
SIMConstellation is a 3D executive summary software solution. It is
specifically not intended to compete with any CxPO modeling and simulation
tools and it will not produce analysis results and it is not a critical
analysis or decision support tool. It will however present results
imported from a selection of analysis sources and including information on data
sources and data creditability. The information presented is subject to
user subjective interpretation, and needs to be supported using robust
analysis methodologies.
This proposal describes the SIMConstellation visualization capability at
Version One using a fixed data input table. It also describes the subsequent
use of assets and game development tools created for Vision Systems' SimCEV to
move on to versions with extended capabilities. The concept utilizes both
serious game techniques and sophisticated game development tools for presenting
an integrated high level view of a selected set of Constellation architecture
trades. Key to the success of SIMConstellation is the creation of a compelling
Version One deliverable built upon the existing extensible software foundation
of SimCEV. Version One will provide a familiar baseline mission view
integrated with an interactive and convincing 3-D virtual mission phase viewer.
The SIMConstellation engine is extensible and modular so as to incrementally increase data
capture fidelity while maintaining a rich presentation capability. NASA
will guide development by defining the selection of trades and mission phases
to be presented. The intent is for SIMConstellation to be a dynamic, interactive
viewer for sharing and presenting mission trades data and expected propagation
of effects across the system of systems architecture. The SIMConstellation will give
voice and vision to the complex set of existing NASA trades and requirements
tools and provide a presentation capability and overall view of the current
state of the evolving baseline architecture. When used properly this will
encourage interactive understanding and collaboration at the system of systems
level for presentation at the IDAC.
The initial selection of trades will be made in
collaboration with the CxPO ATA team, and may include the following, tracked
across mission phases:
Vehicle stack configuration including elements in the
stack; and trades such as LIDS vs. APAS; or hypergols vs. alternative RCS
fuels
Mass budget of each element in the stack at each point in
the mission timeline
- Vehicle velocity at each point in the mission timeline
- Remaining Delta V generation capability of the vehicle
stack (or subset of the stack)
- Consumables by vehicle element and consumption rates, i.e.
LOX boil-off rates
- Launch opportunities and probabilities based upon
available launch windows mapped against weather, sea-state, and hardware
reliability
- Lunar mission Ares V and Ares I launch timing separation
and effects of delays vs. PLOM - Probability of Loss Of Mission
- Launch and ascent abort conditions and phased abort
opportunities and methods
- Upmass, downmass, power, propellant, water, crew
consumables, N2/O2, crew time, and payload operations
- Others as directed by NASA CxPO ATA office
Version One
SIMConstellation shows the operator a familiar baseline
mission view with vehicle elements and major mission milestones from pre-launch
to mission completion. Clicking on the timeline displays the selected trade
data for that mission phase in the baseline mission view and selects the
appropriate mission phase in the 3-D virtual mission viewer. The operator can
move the camera around in the 3-D scene and observe the vehicle elements from a
variety of angles. Clicking on a graphical object either in the baseline
mission view or the 3-D virtual mission viewer will display trades data
appropriate to that object.
Clicking on the mini baseline mission view in the lower left
screen swaps it back and forth into the main window with the 3-D virtual
mission viewer.
The column on the upper left will dynamically populate with
trades data assigned to a selected graphical object, such as mass and velocity.
The box below that column will document the data credibility, populated with
data source (tool chain) and data quality references with the pedigree,
heritage and uncertainty estimate relevant to a user selected data field in the
upper left column. In this manner many trades can be explored in a relatively
simple environment while keeping the viewer uncluttered.
In Version One, SIMConstellation will initially import data in the form
of a table compiled from a variety of selected trade studies. In
this fashion, ATA staff can populate a data table locally in familiar software
and SIMConstellation can then readily incorporate the updated data table into the viewer.
As long as the trades study output data is in the agreed upon data format, SIMConstellation
will be able to present it in the viewer. This gives the CxPO ATA team direct
control over the architecture version being presented for to the wider base of
users. Later versions will automate some of this data management
function. If needed, Vision Systems can also write data conversion routines for
trades study software that does not adhere to standard data formats.
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