OPTIMUM-AIV: A planning and scheduling system for spacecraft AIV

Abstract This paper presents a project undertaken for the European Space Agency (ESA). The project is developing a knowledge-based software system for planning and scheduling of activities for spacecraft assembly, integration, and verification (AIV). The system extends into the monitoring of plan execution and the plan repair phases. The objectives of the contract are to develop an operational kernel of a planning, scheduling and plan repair tool, called OPTIMUM-AIV, and to provide facilities that will allow individual projects to customize the kernel to suit its specific needs. The kernel shall consist of a set of software functionalities for assistance in initial specification of the AIV plan, in verification and generation of valid plans and schedules for the AIV activities, and in interactive monitoring and execution problem recovery for the detailed AIV plans. Embedded in OPTIMUM-AIV are external interfaces that allow integration with alternative scheduling systems and project databases. The current status of the OPTIMUM-AIV project, as of January 1991, is that a further analysis of the AIV domain has taken place through interviews with satellite AIV experts. A software requirements document (SRD) for the full operational tool has been approved and an architectural design document (ADD) for the kernel, excluding external interfaces, are ready for review. At the time of the conference, the implementation will be well underway expecting a final delivery in September of 1991.