Intelligent threat assessment module, method and system for space situational awareness system

• US 8,019,712 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Rigdon, Debra A., Tibbetts, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin; Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLUDE AFOLABI, OLATOYOSI
• Application Number:
  US12/022,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425, 340/539.26, 342/13, 706/46, 706/47
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

Threat assessment modules are disclosed that intelligently review evidence of potential threats posed by detected objects within a region of exo-atmospheric space and generate a most probable threat scenario to facilitate administration of counterspace operations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented threat assessment module for a computer-based space situational awareness system, the space situational awareness system including a database populated with space object information and subject matter expert information for space objects, the space-situational awareness system receiving input data from a sensor fusion system corresponding to a detected object in an exo-atmospheric space, the threat assessment module including a processing device communicatively coupled to the database and adapted to process the input data for the detected object from the sensor fusion system to:

reason, using the input data received at the processing device, an identity of the detected object in exo-atmospheric space as a known or unknown object;

review, using the reasoned identity of the exo-atmospheric space object, as well as evidence information internal and external to the database that relates to the reasoned identity of the exo-atmospheric space object accessed by the processing device, the evidence information supporting a plurality of threat scenario hypotheses corresponding to the reasoned identity; and

reason, by the processing device and using the reviewed evidence information, a most probable threat scenario from the plurality of threat scenario hypotheses that is supported by the evidence information.

2. The computer-implemented threat assessment module of claim 1, the module further adapted to supply the most probable threat scenario to a person.

3. The computer-implemented threat assessment module of claim 1, the module further adapted to supply the most probable threat scenario to a computer-implemented course-of-action module to evaluate potential responses to the most probable threat scenario.

4. The computer-implemented threat assessment module of claim 1, the module further adapted to factor in diplomatic, intelligence, military and economic (DIME) information corresponding to the reasoned identity when reasoning the most probable threat scenario.

5. The computer-implemented threat assessment module of claim 1, the module further adapted to:

review evidence establishing a capability for executing a threatening action;

review evidence establishing a hostile motive for undertaking a threatening action;

review evidence establishing an opportunity to undertake a threatening action;

review evidence indicative of suspicious behavior; and

aggregate the evidence of capability, motive and suspicious behavior to generate the most probable threat scenario.

6. The computer-implemented threat assessment module of claim 1, the module further adapted to consider kinematic and space catalog information to deduce an identity of the detected object.

7. The computer-implemented threat assessment module of claim 1, the module adapted to identify and evaluate a potential threat posed by a satellite object.

8. A method for evaluating an existence of a threat posed by a detected object in a computer-based space situational awareness system, the method utilizing a computer-based space situational awareness system including a database of space object information and subject matter expert information, the space situational awareness system communicating with a sensor fusion system for detecting an object in an exo-atmospheric space being monitored, the method comprising:

automatically receiving sensor information data corresponding to a detected object in the exo-atmospheric space being monitored;

searching the database and elsewhere in response to the received sensor information data, for corresponding data to the received sensor information data;

reasoning to identify the object as a known object or unknown object; and

reasoning, using various databases, additional open source materials, and subject matter expert information, a threat capability and probability posed by the known or unknown object to other objects in the exo-atmospheric space being monitored.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a threat profile report for the known or unknown object.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting the threat profile report to a person.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending an evaluation to a computer implemented course of action generating module.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein reasoning the threat capability and probability posed by the known or unknown object comprises:

considering multiple hypotheses of potential threat capabilities and motive for the reasoned identity; and

considering diplomatic, intelligence, military and economic (DIME) information corresponding to the reasoned identity to determine the most probable threat capability and probability.

13. The method of claim 8, further wherein reasoning the identity of the object as a known object or unknown object comprises:

consulting space catalog information;

considering kinematic information for the detected object to deduce the most probable identity of the detected object; and

considering other available information potentially characterizing the object.

14. The method of claim 8, further wherein reasoning about the identity of the object as a known object or unknown object comprises:

comparing the received sensor information data to data corresponding to known satellites; and

matching the received sensor information data to one of the known satellite objects to identify the object;

or

designating the object as an unknown object and create a new data profile for the unknown object for future analysis.

15. A computer-based space situational awareness system for evaluating detected objects in a region of exo-atmospheric space, the system including a database populated with space object information and subject matter expert information for space objects, the system adapted to:

receive input data from a sensor fusion system for a detected object in the exo-atmospheric space; and

autonomously evaluate a potential threat presented by the detected object in the exo-atmospheric space.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein system is adapted to probabilistically determine a presence of a threat, a type of threat;

the danger of the threat, and an intent of a controlling entity to evaluate the potential threat.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is adapted to predictively analyze, via consideration of multiple threat scenario hypotheses supported by information in various databases and additional open source materials, a most probable threat scenario for the detected object.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the system utilizes diplomatic, intelligence, military and economic (DIME) information stored in various databases and additional open source materials to determine the potential threat.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the system includes a means branch, a motive branch, and a suspicion branch to analyze detected objects.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the detected object is a satellite.