Systems Engineering Challenges for Designing Adaptive Systems

Watch this 29-minute conference talk exploring the complex engineering challenges involved in creating adaptive systems for space missions. Learn about the fundamental systems engineering principles and methodologies required when designing spacecraft and mission architectures that must autonomously adapt to changing conditions during long-duration missions to the outer solar system and beyond. Discover the unique constraints and requirements that emerge when traditional ground-based mission control becomes impractical due to communication delays, and understand how systems engineers must anticipate and design for uncertainty in extreme environments. Examine real-world case studies and theoretical frameworks that address the trade-offs between system complexity, reliability, and adaptability in mission-critical applications. Gain insights into the interdisciplinary approaches needed to balance autonomous decision-making capabilities with fail-safe mechanisms, and explore how adaptive systems engineering principles can be applied beyond space exploration to other complex, remote, or high-stakes operational environments.