Evolutionary computation technologies for the automated design of space systems

The Evolvable Computation Group, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is tasked with demonstrating the utility of computational engineering and computer optimized design for complex space systems. The group is comprised of researchers over a broad range of disciplines including biology, genetics, robotics, physics, computer science and system design, and employs biologically inspired evolutionary computational techniques to design and optimize complex systems. Over the past two years we have developed tools using genetic algorithms, simulated annealing and other optimizers to improve on human design of space systems. We have further demonstrated that the same tools used for computer-aided design and design evaluation can be used for automated innovation and design, and be applied to hardware in the loop such as robotic arms and MEMS micro-gyroscopes. These powerful techniques also serve to reduce redesign costs and schedules.