Smart Mission Design: Bridging Space Engineering, Systems Thinking, and Intelligent Computation
Dr Li (Lily) Qiao is a Senior Lecturer in Space Systems Engineering at UNSW Canberra, where she leads research and teaching in spacecraft design, navigation, and systems engineering. Her research focuses on Smart Mission Design, tradespace exploration, and autonomous spacecraft navigation using GNSS and data fusion techniques.
In this talk, Lily will introduce the principles and workflow of Smart Mission Design and showcase how intelligent tools can accelerate design iteration, enhance mission robustness, and reduce cost and risk. Drawing from her recent research on AI/CI-driven mission decision support and system tradespace exploration, she will illustrate how SMD is paving the way for the next generation of agile and reliable space systems.
Abstract:
The design of modern space missions demands more than classical systems engineering—it requires intelligent, adaptive, and data-driven decision-making. Missions today face increasing complexity, tighter budgets, shorter timelines, and the need to operate autonomously in dynamic environments. To meet these challenges, engineers must move beyond traditional, sequential design approaches toward smarter, more integrated methodologies.
Smart Mission Design (SMD) is an emerging interdisciplinary approach that unites space engineering, systems engineering, and computer science to transform how missions are conceived, analyzed, and optimized. By combining computational intelligence (CI) and digital engineering, SMD enables rapid tradespace exploration, predictive analysis, and informed decision-making across the mission lifecycle.
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- Ian Ross Smeinar Room 2.14, ANU
- Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- Australia
- Building: Ian Ross Building