NASA Platform for Autonomous Systems (NPAS)
Description
The NASA Platform for Autonomous Systems (NPAS) enables implementation of "thinking" systems, and in particular of "thinking" autonomous systems. A broad range of systems can be made to display "thinking" autonomous behavior; including fluid, mechanical, electrical, networks, and computer. Additional types of systems can be easily included.
Detailed example
AI behavior, "thinking," is grounded in a comprehensive representation of the system (comparable to SysML model descriptions that include health management and autonomy behaviors as well as schematic level descriptions), behavior/function models (physics-based, heuristic, rule-based - probabilistic and neural-network models can also be incorporated), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) with generic/re-usable libraries.
AI / analytics pattern
Agentic AI: AI systems that perform tasks or make decisions autonomously with minimal human intervention.
Automation level / stage
a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.
Expected benefit
NPAS systems/applications incorporate autonomy strategies to deal with off-nominal cases, and strategies for fault management. NPAS includes infrastructure for autonomous operations (task definition, planning, scheduling, and execution) embodying specific concepts of operations. NPAS supports implementation of hierarchical distributed autonomous systems and operations.
Controls / human review
ATO: Not reported; PIA: Not published