Christopher Rouff
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, AOS, Department Member
- Thirty plus years of experience in advanced research and development as a researcher, project manager and business de... moreThirty plus years of experience in advanced research and development as a researcher, project manager and business developer across a range of domains and government customers. Executed and directed projects, managed researchers, evaluated technologies, wrote proposals, developed new program ideas and expanded and increased revenue on projects. Interfaced with customers and stakeholders, and developed business at DARPA, ONR, AFRL, NASA, the IC and other government agencies.
Have performed research in autonomy, autonomic computing, cyber security, memetics, automatic code generation, agent-based systems, formal verification, swarms, emergent behavior, software engineering, future space systems, and user interfaces. Collaborated with government, industry, universities and national labs on idea generation, proposals, joint projects and publications.
Over 100 publications, 6 patents, 4 books and 1,200+ citations.edit
Having focused on automation and autonomy in space-based systems in the previous chapter, attention is now directed toward ground-based systems, particularly the automation of spacecraft control centers. We describe a strategy for... more
Having focused on automation and autonomy in space-based systems in the previous chapter, attention is now directed toward ground-based systems, particularly the automation of spacecraft control centers. We describe a strategy for automating NASA ground-based systems by using a multiagent system to support ground-based autonomous satellite-subsystem monitoring and report generation supporting mission operations. Over the last several years, work has
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In this chapter, we discuss the application of the autonomy technologies considered in previous chapters to spacecraft constellations. The needs of constellations that can be supported by onboard autonomy are described along with the... more
In this chapter, we discuss the application of the autonomy technologies considered in previous chapters to spacecraft constellations. The needs of constellations that can be supported by onboard autonomy are described along with the enhancements attainable by constellation missions through the application of onboard autonomy. A list of hypothetical constellation mission types is also posed and a list of governance concepts is then presented in relation to the degree of central control being exercised on the constellation. Finally, the chapter discusses mobile agent concepts to support autonomic constellations.
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In this chapter, we examine how agent technology might be utilized in flight software (FSW) to enable increased levels of autonomy in spacecraft missions. Again, as stated in the Preface, our discussion relates exclusively to uncrewed... more
In this chapter, we examine how agent technology might be utilized in flight software (FSW) to enable increased levels of autonomy in spacecraft missions. Again, as stated in the Preface, our discussion relates exclusively to uncrewed assets (robotic spacecraft, instrument platforms on planetary bodies, robotic rovers, etc.) or assets that must be capable of untended operations (e.g., ground stations during
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Having focused on automation and autonomy in space-based systems in the previous chapter, attention is now directed toward ground-based systems, particularly the automation of spacecraft control centers. We describe a strategy for... more
Having focused on automation and autonomy in space-based systems in the previous chapter, attention is now directed toward ground-based systems, particularly the automation of spacecraft control centers. We describe a strategy for automating NASA ground-based systems by using a multiagent system to support ground-based autonomous satellite-subsystem monitoring and report generation supporting mission operations. Over the last several years, work has progressed on developing prototypes of agent-based control centers [2, 36, 86, 134]. With the prototypes has come an improved understanding of the potentials for autonomous ground-based command and control activities that could be realized from the innovative use of agent technologies. Three of the prototypes will be described: Agent-based Flight Operations Associate (AFLOAT), Lights Out Ground Operations System (LOGOS), and Agent Concept Testbed (ACT).
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Unlike our first topic, attitude, orbit is a word for which most people probably could conjure up a reasonable visual image. They might envision the Earth and the other planets circling the Sun, or the Moon or a spacecraft circling the... more
Unlike our first topic, attitude, orbit is a word for which most people probably could conjure up a reasonable visual image. They might envision the Earth and the other planets circling the Sun, or the Moon or a spacecraft circling the Earth.
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In addition to reviving the classic “buddy picture” genre, as well as making Paul Newman and Robert Redford two of the top box office draws in Hollywood, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is particularly memorable for a long, drawn-out... more
In addition to reviving the classic “buddy picture” genre, as well as making Paul Newman and Robert Redford two of the top box office draws in Hollywood, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is particularly memorable for a long, drawn-out chase scene where ultimately nothing substantive happens.
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Research Interests: Information Systems, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Formal methods, and 15 moreReverse Engineering, Dependability, Programming, System Engineering, Formal Specification, Natural language, Computer Languages, Formal method, Code Generation, Sensor Network, Development Methodology, Autonomic System, Formal Model, Notation, and Dependable Systems
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Increasingly, NASA relies on autonomous systems concepts, not only in the mission control centers on the ground, but also on spacecraft and on rovers and other assets on extraterrestrial bodies to achieve the full range of advanced... more
Increasingly, NASA relies on autonomous systems concepts, not only in the mission control centers on the ground, but also on spacecraft and on rovers and other assets on extraterrestrial bodies to achieve the full range of advanced mission objectives. While autonomy cost-effectively supports mission goals, autonomicity supports survivability of remote missions, especially when human tending is not feasible. Analysis of two prototype NASA agent-based systems and of a proposed mission involving numerous cooperating spacecraft illustrates how autonomous and autonomic system concepts may be brought to bear on future space missions
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Planetary surface exploration is a pursuit of interest for countries around the world. Robots play a critical role in exploration today, and will increasingly in the future when robots will be very intelligent and autonomic. The range of... more
Planetary surface exploration is a pursuit of interest for countries around the world. Robots play a critical role in exploration today, and will increasingly in the future when robots will be very intelligent and autonomic. The range of activities associated with a settlement on Mars presents a worthy canvas for illustrating the potential of robot memetics. This chapter covers example applications of ideas on robot memes and memetic algorithms suggesting the manner in which robots can acquire intelligence, exchange ideas, and cooperate with one another and with humans to accomplish goals. This is done against the backdrop of a future Mars settlement and across a range of scenarios that should motivate new scenarios and supporting technologies to develop intelligent, human-collaborative robots of the future.
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Agent-Mediated Pro-active Web-Sites.- Learning to Use Referrals to Select Satisficing Service Providers.- Towards an Emotional Decision-Making.- A Self-adapting System Generating Intentional Behavior and Emotions.- A New Parameter for... more
Agent-Mediated Pro-active Web-Sites.- Learning to Use Referrals to Select Satisficing Service Providers.- Towards an Emotional Decision-Making.- A Self-adapting System Generating Intentional Behavior and Emotions.- A New Parameter for Maintaining Consistency in an Agent's Knowledge Base Using Truth Maintenance Systems.- Mind Out of Programmable Matter: Exploring Unified Models of Emergent Autonomy.- Characterizing Environmental Information for Monitoring Agents.- Towards a Model Level Debugger for the Cougaar Model Driven Architecture System.- Can Agent Oriented Software Engineering Be Used to Build MASs Product Lines?.- Towards Dynamic Electronic Institutions: From Agent Coalitions to Agent Institutions.- Institutionalization Through Reciprocal Habitualization and Typification.- On the Concept of Agent in Multi-robot Environment.- An Approach for Autonomy: A Collaborative Communication Framework for Multi-agent Systems.- Autonomy Without Independence: Animal Training as a Model for Robot Design.- Shaping the Future of Online Payment Processing: An Autonomic Approach Applied to Intelligent Payment Brokers.- Genetically Modified Software: Realizing Viable Autonomic Agency.- Harnessing Self-modifying Code for Resilient Software.- Oracle: An Agent-Based, Reference Architecture.- Hierarchies, Holons, and Agent Coordination.- A Systemic Framework for Open Software Agents.- Hybrid System Reachability-Based Analysis of Dynamical Agents.- Distributed Agent Evolution with Dynamic Adaptation to Local Unexpected Scenarios.- Run-Time Agents as a Means of Reconciling Flexibility and Scalability of Services.- Concept and Sensor Network Approach to Computing: The Lexicon Acquisition Component.- An Agent Based Hybrid Analog-Digital Robotic Sensor Web Meta-system.- Harnessing Agent-Based Games Research for Analysis of Collective Agent Behavior in Critical Settings.- Defining Agents Via Strategies: Towards a View of MAS as Games.- Secure Mobile Agent Deployment and Communication Towards Autonomous Semantic Grid.- A System Theory Approach to the Representation of Mobile Digital Controllers Agents.- Towards Adaptive Migration Strategies for Mobile Agents.- Agent Modeling of Tetrahedron-Based Structures.- Congestion Control in Multi-Agent Systems Through Dynamic Games of Deterrence.- Radical Concepts for Self-managing Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing Environments.- Survivable Security Systems Through Autonomicity.
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Chih-Chun Chen, Sylvia B. Nagl, Christopher D. Clack, A method for validating and discovering associations between multi-level emergent behaviours in agent-based simulations, Proceedings of the 2nd KES International conference on Agent... more
Chih-Chun Chen, Sylvia B. Nagl, Christopher D. Clack, A method for validating and discovering associations between multi-level emergent behaviours in agent-based simulations, Proceedings of the 2nd KES International conference on Agent and multi-...
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In this chapter, we discuss the application of the autonomy technologies considered in previous chapters to spacecraft constellations. The needs of constellations that can be supported by onboard autonomy are described along with the... more
In this chapter, we discuss the application of the autonomy technologies considered in previous chapters to spacecraft constellations. The needs of constellations that can be supported by onboard autonomy are described along with the enhancements attainable by constellation missions through the application of onboard autonomy. A list of hypothetical constellation mission types is also posed and a list of governance concepts is then presented in relation to the degree of central control being exercised on the constellation. Finally, the chapter discusses mobile agent concepts to support autonomic constellations.
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As new ideas surface for implementing advanced autonomous functions onboard spacecraft, the extent to which spacecraft already possess autonomous capability is often not fully appreciated. Many of these capabilities, in fact, have been in... more
As new ideas surface for implementing advanced autonomous functions onboard spacecraft, the extent to which spacecraft already possess autonomous capability is often not fully appreciated. Many of these capabilities, in fact, have been in place for so long that they have become absorbed within the flight software (FSW) infrastructure, and as a result, typically are not even considered when FSW
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... Encounters [1] and Prospecting ANTS Missions: Applying a New Paradigm to Lunar andPlanetary Exploration [2]. Additional ... Concept Overview that are available from the ANTS web site ... A scenario for the ANTS mission is based on... more
... Encounters [1] and Prospecting ANTS Missions: Applying a New Paradigm to Lunar andPlanetary Exploration [2]. Additional ... Concept Overview that are available from the ANTS web site ... A scenario for the ANTS mission is based on the ANTS targeting an asteroid on which to ...
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Research Interests: Engineering, Computer Science, Aerodynamics, Autonomy, Control Systems, and 15 moreHigher Order Thinking, Multi Agent Systems, Intelligent System, Autonomous Systems, Cost effectiveness, Aeronautics, Autonomic System, Agent BAsed System, Environmental Conditions, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Latency, Spacecraft, Cost Function, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Higher order
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To perform new science and exploration, NASA is proposing missions using multispacecraft where each spacecraft can act independently to perform a part of a mission but cannot complete it by itself. These missions are utilizing the concept... more
To perform new science and exploration, NASA is proposing missions using multispacecraft where each spacecraft can act independently to perform a part of a mission but cannot complete it by itself. These missions are utilizing the concept of “System of Systems” that are being used to develop large systems made up of interacting components, each of which is a system in its own right. To develop these systems with a high level of assurance, new verification methods will be needed to address the added complexity resulting from the nondeterminate nature of these systems as well as emergent behavior. To support the level of assurance that NASA missions require, formal specification techniques and formal verification will play vital roles in the future development of NASA space exploration missions. The role of formal methods will be in the specification and analysis of forthcoming missions, enabling software assurance and proof of correctness of the system of systems behavior, whether or not this behavior is emergent. Formal models derived may also be used as the basis for automating the generation of much of the code for the mission to further reduce the cost and probability of adding new errors during coding.