RLV Aerodynamic and Trajectory Analysis Using an Agent-based Framework
Ken Gee, Chun Y. Tang, Scott Lawrence · 10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference · 2004
The Tool Agent Framework—Java (TAF-J) software was developed to provide a set of services to access, manage, and integrate aerospace analysis tools with the Information Power Grid (IPG), a distributed set of heterogeneous compute resources. Analysis tools in several disciplines were incorporated into the framework. The framework also included a number of helper utilities created to link the various tools together to perform multidisciplinary analyses. Analysis and tool selection, job creation, submission and monitoring, solution monitoring, and data storage and retrieval were managed using prototype software agents. These agents were designed to perform their functions with minimal user input. The framework was used to compute ascent abort trajectories for a reusable launch vehicle design. Several design of experiments (DOE) methods within the framework were tested for computational speed and accuracy. The data generated were then used in the trajectory analysis. The trajectory analysis agent automatically selected an appropriate emergency landing site based upon the abort parameters.