At the 9th International Summer School on AI and Big Data, Prof. Dr. Ryszard Kowalczyk (University of South Australia) will talk about Distributed AI and Multi-agent Systems for Space Systems Autonomy. The keynote will take place on Tuesday, 04.07.2023 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Keynote: Distributed AI and Multi-agent Systems for Space Systems Autonomy

AI-based autonomy has been recognised as a key enabler of the next-generation space systems that aim at increasing responsiveness and continuity of space-based observations, covering large areas with higher resolutions, minimizing communication and data access latencies, and reducing costs of both the space and ground segments. Space systems autonomy encompasses onboard autonomous decision-making capabilities that enable the space segment to continue mission operations and to survive critical situations without relying on ground segment intervention. It relates to all aspects of spacecraft operations, including continuous mission planning and execution on board, real-time spacecraft control outside ground contact, maximisation of mission objectives in relation to the available onboard resources and capabilities of other spacecraft, and system robustness in presence of on-board failures and external uncertainties. 

This talk focuses on distributed AI and multiagent technology enabling distributed space systems autonomy capabilities, including onboard AI processing and actionable intelligence, multiagent-based small spacecraft and constellation resilience, distributed AI for dynamic optimisation of spacecraft operations, and AI-based real-time tasking and resource allocation in distributed space systems.

Prof. Dr. Ryszard Kowalczyk

Professor Ryszard Kowalczyk is SmartSat CRC Chair in Artificial Intelligence at University of South Australia and a national flagship SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) involving more than 85 participants comprising universities, global space companies, Australian SMEs and more than 35 start-ups. His research interests include distributed artificial intelligence, autonomous software agents and collective intelligence for automated and optimised decision-making, and their applications in digital eco-systems of interacting systems, people and things. It involves automated reasoning, negotiation, learning, adaptation and self-organisation in autonomous multi-agent systems, enabling AI-based spacecraft autonomy capabilities for the next-generation distributed space systems. 

Professor Kowalczyk has co-authored 4 patents, published more than 250 scientific articles, and provided expert policy advice to government bodies in Australia and overseas. He has been awarded more than 40 Research & Development projects funded by competitive grants and industry in excess of $45 million, delivering significant research and commercial benefits. His current and past industry collaborators include Saab, Airbus, Asension, Leonardo, Wipro, DST Group, Zimbani, CGREI, Suncorp, AARNet, Telstra, Canon, IBM, Australian Navy, SAP and DaimlerChrysler.

Read more about the 9th International Summer School