Resilient Networking Framework for Mission Operations and Resource Sharing in Multi-Agent Systems

Multi-agent systems call for dependable communication and maintainable infrastructure to conduct distributed operations. Effectively networking services across distributed systems (e.g., drone formations) allows nodes to contribute their collective resources toward achieving mission objectives. Automating unit coordination and node management, within a reusable middleware framework, aligns with goals envisioned in NASA's Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) and the National Research Council's Space Studies Board recommendations for CubeSat swarms and constellations for advanced aerospace missions. To provide reliable system management, software services should possess automaticity and fault-tolerance. Additionally, networking services for aerospace platforms should be robust, portable, and reusable for many mission life cycles. Researchers at the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Space, High-performance, and Resilient Computing (SHREC) have developed a system architecture that can be deployed as a reusable middleware for distributed systems in hazardous aerospace environments.