A Continuous Anytime Planning Module for an Autonomous Earth Watching Satellite

In this paper, we present the problem of management of an Earth watching mission (detection, observation, and tracking of forest fires and volcanic eruptions) by means of a constel- lation of low-orbit satellites. We show that the mission reac- tivity requirements and the communication constraints make on-board decision capabilities absolutely necessary. After showing how tracking tasks can be shared on the ground between satellites, we focus on on-board decision-making mechanisms. We show how a continuous anytime planning module can be designed to deal as optimally and reactively as possible with observation and data down-loading decisions. After an analysis of simulation results, we try to draw from this particular setting general lessons about continuous any- time decision-making mechanisms for permanent missions in dynamic unforeseeable environments.