SBIR-STTR Award

Generative Adversarial Networks for Detecting Erroneous Results
Award last edited on: 1/14/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NASA : KSC
Total Award Amount
$149,672
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
H10.02
Principal Investigator
Michael Lanighan

Company Information

TRACLabs Inc

16969 North Texas Avenue Suite 300
Webster, TX 77598
   (210) 461-7886
   info@traclabs.com
   www.traclabs.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 36
County: Harris

Phase I

Contract Number: 80NSSC22PB229
Start Date: 7/19/2022    Completed: 1/25/2023
Phase I year
2022
Phase I Amount
$149,672
As part of the broader ARTEMIS effort, NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) is targeting an increase in the use of robot and automated systems to enable the unattended setup, operation, and maintenance of ground systems and systems on the surfaces of other planets and moons. There is a critical need for technology to realize this target, specifically technologies to enable autonomous inspection, maintenance, and repair (IM&R). Under previously funded NASA efforts TRACLabs has developed CRAFTSMAN, a supervisory robot control framework. However, this approach still requires supervisory/operator interaction to perform verification of task outcomes and inspection. This potentially limits the ability to widely deploy such a supervisory system due to the level of required operator attention and interaction. Techniques to automate such tasks are needed to reduce operator burden. Additionally, the lack of robust error detection becomes increasingly critical in remote tasks on the lunar surface and in dangerous ground-based tasks such as those involving propellant transfer. To address this shortcoming and to increase the autonomous capabilities of TRACLabs' robot control suite for use in HEOMD domains TRACLabs proposes the Generative Adversarial Networks for Detecting Erroneous Results (GANDER) system to leverage Generative Adversarial Networks to perform online error detection in ground operations tasks. The resulting system will increase the inspection and task outcome verification capabilities of these systems, thus increasing the autonomous behavior of deployed robot systems on Earth and on other planets and moons. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): In addition to benefiting NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) operations at KSC, enabling autonomous inspection, maintenance and repair functionality will be of increasing importance in the upcoming Artemis missions. It is expected that the tools developed under the proposed effort will have direct application for lunar surface operations to increase the level of autonomy of systems such as the Lunar Surface Manipulation System by providing autonomous verification tools. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Tools for autonomous inspection, maintenance, and repair have a large number of potential applications, from sub-sea robots to factory systems. Additionally, tools that enable verification of execution and task outcomes will become increasingly important as robot systems increase their level of autonomous operations. The proposed GANDER system addresses these needs. Duration: 6

Phase II

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Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
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