Design of a Human-Interactive Autonomous Flight Manager (AFM) for Crewed Lunar Landing

[Abstract] To meet NASA’s requirement for more independence from ground control an Autonomous Flight Manager (AFM) is needed for lunar landings. The AFM will handle the mechanistic tasks such as the vehicle control needed to maneuver and cueing when astronaut input is needed. This technology will allow the astronauts to perform a supervisory role, making higher level knowledge-based decisions. Draper’s proven autonomy capability is extended to include mechanisms for a human operator, either onboard or remotely controlling the vehicle, to interrupt and redirect the autonomous system at different levels of autonomous control. A proposed AFM design, including human “reach-in”, is described.