(ORDO NEWS) — NASA designers have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to help them design and build more robust and lightweight components for their spacecraft.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland uses AI to develop specialized, custom-made parts called “evolved structures” for its missions. They also look a little “out of this world“.
“They look a bit alien and strange,” said research engineer Ryan McClelland, “But once you see them in action, it makes sense.”
Starting with the requirements of the mission, the computer-aided design specialist draws the surfaces where the part connects to the instrument or spacecraft, and then (in just an hour or two)
AI software connects the dots to create complex structures.
“Algorithms need the human eye,” McClelland said.
“Human intuition knows what looks right, but left to its own devices, the algorithm can sometimes make designs too thin,” he added.
Improved designs can support higher structural loads, weigh less, and can be built in as little as a week. They also require less help from humans, which gives designers more time to work on other parts of the mission.
“We found that it reduces the risk.
After this stress analysis, we find that the parts generated by the algorithm do not have the stress concentration that you have in human structures.
Stress factors are almost ten times lower than parts made by an experienced person,” McClelland explained.
According to Ryan McClelland, who pioneered the development of these parts, these advanced designs can save up to two-thirds the weight of standard components and reduce the risk of breakage.
They are currently used on various NASA missions , including the EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE) mission, used to study Jupiter-type exoplanets.
“We have a couple of areas with very complex design requirements,” said physicist Peter Nagler.
“For our designers, it was difficult to combine specific interfaces and rigid load requirements,” he added.
AI-assisted design will allow larger components to be produced in orbit, or even easier to build on the Moon or Mars using materials found in these places, as well as expand the possibilities of “maintenance, assembly and production in space.”
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