SPIF-e

The SPIF-e (Science Planning InterFace to engineering) project is approaching the challenge of mixed-initiative planning from a human perspective. By synthesizing cutting-edge developments in planning technology, proven HCI methodology, and hundreds of hours of experience designing and building mission systems, the HCI Group is developing a tool aimed squarely at solving key challenges for mixed-initiative mission planning.

Data-driven Design of Key Functionality

The HCI Group collected rich data about the MER planning process, which led directly to the development of a next-generation planning toolkit. Combining experience designing and developing the Constraint Editor, over 500 hours of data collected on scientific collaboration, and in-the-trenches observation of nearly 200 sols of tactical planning, the HCI Group is feeding the many lessons learned into future tools for mission planning.

The cornerstone of this toolkit, SPIF-e, embodies many design solutions to the set of problems observed on MER and in other mixed-initiative planning contexts. The tool will allow mission planning personnel to track data generated from activity requests, provide enhanced template functionality to speed up planning through activity and plan reuse, and provide a next-generation mixed-initiative planning interface that is easy to use and rich with information and feedback.

Planned Mission Deployments

SPIF-e is being considered as part of the notional baseline for the 2007 Phoenix mission, and the HCI Group is collaborating with members of the Ames Next Generation Activity Planning Subsystem team and multi-mission JPL tool developers to develop software for both Phoenix and the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory mission.

SPIF-e's innovative "multi-column" view provides unique insight into plan relationships.