A Two-Phase Approach for Reliability-Redundancy Optimization of a Communication Satellite

Abstract

The development and launch of communication satellite projects pose significant challenges and costs. The expenses can range from several hundred million dollars, contingent on factors such as mission objectives, satellite system size and complexity including the launch vehicle, and ground infrastructure. Satellites must be designed to withstand harsh conditions in space, such as the extreme temperatures, radiation, and other hazards, while delivering reliable communication services to its users. However, once a satellite is launched, physical maintenance interventions become infeasible in the event of technical problems. Thus, reliability is a critical aspect for these expensive systems. This study aims to minimize the cost of a high-tech communication satellite by addressing design considerations that meet customer reliability requirements without exceeding power and redundant equipment limits. To achieve this goal, we propose an integer non-linear programming model in this research. To solve the satellite design problem, we adopt a two-stage solution approach. Conventional industrial practices in satellite design often involve iterative attempts to determine the redundancy level of onboard units based on customer reliability requirements. These processes rely heavily on the experience of design engineers who evaluate a limited number of alternatives to determine the number of redundant units, resulting in sub-optimal outcomes. In contrast, our proposed approach systematically handles the problem and yields optimal results. Our findings demonstrate that the proposed two-phase approach can achieve optimal redundancy levels within seconds.

Keywords

• Communication satellite
• Reliability optimization
• Redundancy allocation
• Non-linear programming
• Integer programming

References

1. [1] Elsayed, E. A., Reliability Engineering, Wiley Series, (2012).
2. [2] Patrick D., T. O'Connor, and Kleyner A., Practical Reliability Engineering, Wiley & Sons, (2012).
3. [3] Bilgen, M. and Altin, N., An Overview on reliability analysis and evaluation methods applied to smart grids. Gazi University Journal of Science Part C: Design and Technology, 9(4): 645-660. (2021).
4. [4] Evans, B. G. (Ed.), Satellite Communication Systems, Vol. 38, (1999).
5. [5] Tetik, T. and Das, G. S., Launch vehicle selection for a geostationary communication satellite using data envelopment analysis. In 2017 8th International Conference on Recent Advances in Space Technologies (RAST) (pp. 39-45). IEEE.(2017).
6. [6] Braun, T. M., Satellite Communications Payload and System, JohnWiley & Sons, (2012).
7. [7] Das, G. S. and Tetik, T., Bir İletişim Uydu Operatörünün Firlatma Araci Seçim Problemi İçin Kesin ve Bulanik VZA Yaklaşimlarinin Karşilaştirilmasi (Comparing Crisp and Fuzzy DEA Approaches for The Launch Vehicle Selection Problem of a Communication Satellite Operator). Gazi University Journal of Science Part C: Design and Technology, 5(1): 21-31, (2017).
8. [8] Rausand, M. and Hoyland, A., System Reliability Theory: Models, Statistical Methods, and Applications, Wiley Series in Probability and Statistics, (2004).

9. [9] Castet, J.-F. and H.Saleh, J., Satellite and Satellite Subsystems Reliability: Statistical Data Analysis. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 1718–1728, (2009).
10. [10] Kuo, W. and Zuo, M. J., Optimal Reliability Modeling: Principles and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, (2003).
11. [11] Agarwal, M., Gupta, R., Ramirez-Marquez, J. E. and Coit, D., A Heuristic for Solving The Redundancy Allocation Problem for Multi-State Series-Parallel Systems, Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 341-349, (2004).
12. [12] Birolini, A., Reliability Engineering Theory and Practice, Springer Science & Business Media, (2013).
13. [13] Coit, D. W. and Smith, A. E., Reliability Optimization of Series-Parallel Systems Using a Genetic Algorithm, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 45(2): 254-260, (1996).
14. [14] Fyffe, D. E., Hines, W. W. and Lee, N. K., System Reliability Allocation and a Computational Algorithm, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 17(2): 64-69, (1968).
15. [15] Khalili-Damghani, K. and Amiri, M., Solving Binary-State Multi-Objective Reliability Redundancy Allocation Series-Parallel Problem Using Efficient Epsilon-Constraint, Multi-Start Partial Bound Enumeration Algorithm, and DEA, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 35-44, (2012).
16. [16] Kim, H. G., Bae, C. O. and Park, D. J., Reliability‐Redundancy Optimization Using Simulated Annealing Algorithms, Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, (2006).
17. [17] Kulturel-Konak, S., Smith, A. E. and Coit, D. W., Efficiently Solving the Redundancy Allocation Problem Using Tabu Search, IIE Transactions, 35(6): 515-526, (2003).
18. [18] Kuo, W. and Wan, R., Recent Advances in Optimal Reliability Allocation, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part A: Systems and Humans, 143 – 156, (2007).
19. [19] Yeh, W. C., A New Exact Solution Algorithm for a Novel Generalized Redundancy Allocation Problem, Information Sciences, 408: 182-197, (2017).
20. [20] Mellal, M. A. and Salhi, A., System Reliability-Redundancy Allocation by the Multiobjective Plant Propagation Algorithm, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, (2021).
21. [21] Munoz, H. and Pierre, E., Interval Arithmetic Optimization Technique For System Reliability with Redundancy, International Conference on Probabilistic Methods Applied to Power Systems, 227-231, (2004).
22. [22] Federowicz, A. J. and Mazumdar, M., Use of Geometric Programming to Maximize Reliability Achieved by Redundancy, Operations Research Society of America, 948-954, (1968).
23. [23] Murray, D. M. and Yakowitz, S. J., Differential Dynamic Programming and Newton's Method for Discrete Optimal Control Problems, Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, 43(3): 395-414, (1984).
24. [24] Ng, K. and Sancho, N., A Hybrid Dynamic Programming/Depth First Search Algorithm, with an Application to Redundancy Allocation, IIE Transactions, 33(12): 1047-1058, (2001).
25. [25] Yalaoui, A., Châtelet, E. and Chu, C., A New Dynamic Programming Method for Reliability & Redundancy Allocation in a Parallel-Series System, IEEE Transactions on Reliability 54(2): 254-261, (2005).
26. [26] Ashrafi, N. and Berman, O., Optimization Models for Selection of Programs Considering Cost and Reliability, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 281-287, (1992).
27. [27] Caserta, M. and Voß, S., An Exact Algorithm for the Reliability Redundancy Allocation Problem, European Journal of Operational Research, 244(1): 110-116, (2015).
28. [28] Ha, C., and Kuo, W., Reliability Redundancy Allocation: An Improved Realization for Nonconvex Nonlinear Programming Problems, European Journal of Operational Research, 127(1): 24-38, (2006).
29. [29] Coit, D. and Liu, J., Reliability Optimization with k-of-n Subsystems, International Journal of Reliability, Quality and Safety Engineering, 129-142. (2000).
30. [30] Kuo, W. and Prasad, V., An Annotated Overview of System-Reliability Optimization, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 487-493, (2000).
31. [31] Onishi, J. K., James, R. and Nakagawa, Y., Solving the Redundancy Allocation Problem with a Mix of Components Using the Improved Surrogate Constraint Method, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 94-101, (2007).
32. [32] Misra, K. B. and Sharma, U., An Efficient Algorithm to Solve Integer-Programming Problems Arising in System-Reliability Design, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 40(1): 81-91, (1991).
33. [33] Chern, M. S., On the Computational Complexity of Reliability Redundancy Allocation in a Series System, Operations Research Letters, 11(5): 309-315, (1992).
34. [34] Atiqullah, M. and Rao, S., Reliability Optimization of Communication Networks using Simulated Annealing, Microelectron Reliability, 1303-1319, (1993).
35. [35] Kuo, W., Prasad, V., Tillman, F., and Hwang, C., Optimal Reliability Design: Fundamentals and Applications, Cambridge University Press, (2000).
36. [36] Wattanapongsakorn, N. and Levitan, S., Reliability Optimization Models for Fault-Tolerant Distributed Systems, In Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium, International Symposium on Product Quality and Integrity, 193-199, IEEE, (2001).
37. [37] Coit, D. W. and Smith, A. E., Reliability Optimization of Series-Parallel Systems Using a Genetic Algorithm, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 45(2): 254-260, (1996).
38. [38] Deeter, D. and Smith, A., Heuristic Optimization of Network Design Considering All-Terminal Reliability, Proceedings Annual reliability and Maintainability Symposium, 194-19, (1997).
39. [39] Konak, A., Coit, D. W. and Smith, A., Multi-objective Optimization Using Genetic Algorithms: A Tutorial, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 992-1007, (2006).
40. [40] Lai, C. M. and Yeh, W. C., Two-stage Simplified Swarm Optimization for the Redundancy Allocation Problem in a Multi-State Bridge System, Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 156, 148-158, (2016).
41. [41] Kulturel-Konak, S., Smith, A. E. and Coit, D. W., Efficiently Solving the Redundancy Allocation Problem Using Tabu Search, IIE transactions, 35(6): 515-526, (2003).
42. [42] Kuo, W. and Prasad, V., An Annotated Overview of System-Reliability Optimization, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 487-493, (2000).
43. [43] Kuo, W. and Wan, R., Recent Advances in Optimal Reliability Allocation, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part A: Systems and Humans, 143 – 156, (2007).
44. [44] Kuo, W., Prasad, V., Tillman, F. and Hwang, C., Optimal Reliability Design: Fundamentals and Applications, Cambridge University Press, (2000).
45. [45] Misra, K., On optimal Reliability Design: A Review, System Science 12, 5-30, (1986).
46. [46] Tillman, F. A., Hwang, C. L. and Kuo, W., Optimization Techniques for System Reliability with Redundancy: A Review, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 26(3): 148-155, (1977).
47. [47] Soltani, R., Reliability Optimization of Binary State Non-Repairable Systems: A State of the Art Survey, International Journal of Industrial Engineering Computations, 339-364, (2014).
48. [48] Twum, S. and Aspinwall, E., Models in Design for Reliability Optimisation, American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 95-110, (2013).
49. [49] Hassan, R. A. & Crossley, W. A., Comparison of Sampling Techniques for Reliability-Based Optimization of Communication Satellites Using Genetic Algorithms, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, (2003).
50. [50] Li, X.-Y., Li, Y.-F. and Huang, H.-Z., Redundancy Allocation Problem of Phased-Mission System with Non-Exponential Components and Mixed Redundancy Strategy, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 106903, (2020).
51. [51] Nefes, M., Demirel, S., Ertok, H. H. and Sen, C., Reliability and Cost Focused Optimization Approach for a Communication Satellite Payload Redundancy Allocation Problem. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering, 361-366, (2018).
52. [52] Hassan, R. and Crossley, W., Spacecraft Reliability-Based Design Optimization Under Uncertainty Including Discrete Variables, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 394-405, (2008).
53. [53] Castet, J.-F. and H.Saleh, J., Satellite and Satellite Subsystems Reliability: Statistical Data Analysis, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 1718–1728, (2009).
54. [54] Maral, G., Bousquet, M. and Sun, Z., Satellite Communications Systems: Systems, Techniques and Technology, John Wiley & Sons, (2020).
55. [55] Kirkpatrick, D., Space Mission Analysis and Design, Vol. 8, J. R. Wertz, W. J. Larson, & D. Klungle (Eds.), Bloomington, IN: Microcosm, (1999).
56. [56] Jin, T., Reliability Engineering and Services, Wiley Series in Quality & Reliability Engineering, (2018).
57. [57] Elsayed, E. A., Reliability Engineering, Willey Series, (2012).
58. [58] Handbook, E. R. D. Military Handbook, 6-55, MIL-HDBK-5H: Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures, US Department of Defense, (2003).
59. [59] She, J. and Pecht, M. G., Reliability of a k-out-of-n Warm-Standby System, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 41(1): 72-75, (1992).
60. [60] Kuo, W. and Zuo, M. J., Optimal Reliability Modeling: Principles and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, (2003).
61. [61] Bradley, Hax, and Magnanti, Applied Mathematical Programming, Addison-Wesley Publishing, (2010).