About

The reach of cyber-physical systems into space is growing exponentially as launch services proliferate and satellites have become small, cheap, and capable. Unlike expensive satellites of the past, the near future promises constellations of thousands of inexpensive nanosatellites. A software-defined nanosatellite is a programmable cyber-physical space system sensing, computing, actuating, and communicating autonomously to support ML-based space CPS apps. Nanosatellites are becoming capable of supporting space-based cyber-physical applications, including:

• defense
• smart cities
• agriculture
• infrastructure
• climate science
• search & rescue

Unfortunately, nanosatellites today operate like monolithic satellites of the past: they are manually operated at high costs, and impede the realization of the potential of nanosatellites for these important cyber-physical systems applications. This project envisions a new operating model for space-based cyber-physical systems in nanosatellite constellations called a “software-defined nanosatellite constellation,” which unleashes their potential.

A software-defined constellation is a collection of nanosatellites capable of autonomously sensing the environment, processing data, and cooperatively planning and taking mechanical actions. This initiative realizes this vision through cross-cutting cyber-physical systems research spanning computer systems, control, planning, actuation, machine learning, and communications. It will culminate in the launch of a software-defined constellation testbed that implements several space-based applications, demonstrating these societally important capabilities and applications, and functioning as a valuable resource for other cyber-physical systems researchers.

Our work demonstrates the project’s value with on-orbit infrastructure and testbeds that form an open platform for future space-based cyber-physical systems research. It will have a broad, transformative impact on society, industry, and education, within and beyond the cyber-physical and space systems communities. Software-defined nanosatellite constellations create an industry of cost-effective space-based applications. The work eliminates barriers to space, enabling industry to develop space-based applications.