Standard Template Construct (STC)

A modular engineering framework for autonomous infrastructure generation and long-lived technological knowledge

Phase 2 — Improved Capability (Active Development)

Executive Abstract

The STC is a long-term engineering framework designed to encode, generate, and deploy infrastructure in remote or extreme environments. It addresses the engineering problem of relying on fragile, context-specific human expertise over vast distances and time. The approach integrates environmental analysis, autonomous planning, modular engineering knowledge, and robotic execution, prioritising longevity, adaptability, and constraint-driven design.

The Engineering Problem

Modern engineering depends heavily on local expertise and constant human intervention, a paradigm that is non-viable for long-duration, remote missions where resupply and human presence are severely limited.

Infrastructure design must be adapted and repaired with incomplete information, and systems must autonomously manage resources and failures over decades.

  • Engineering knowledge is fragile and often trapped in human memory.
  • Infrastructure design is inherently context-specific (planet, climate, mission).
  • Remote environments amplify failure and restrict reaction time.
  • Technological knowledge loss over generational cycles is a critical risk.

Definition & Scope

STC IS:

  • A modular engineering knowledge system (codified design rules).
  • A planning and synthesis framework (decides optimal deployment).
  • A research platform for autonomous infrastructure.
  • Incremental and extensible (built through sub-projects).

STC IS NOT:

  • A single black-box AI model.
  • A finished product requiring commercial sale.
  • A replacement for human engineering oversight.
  • A fully autonomous self-replicating civilization (yet).

System Architecture at a Glance

Planetary Surface Analyser

Environmental Data Ingestion

Modular Infrastructure Gen.

Tailored Module Selection

Resource & Logistics Planner

Optimized Layout Logic

Colony Layout Engine

Spatial Layout Provision

STC Simulation Engine

Layout Validation & Physics

Auto Constructor

Physical Module Assembly

Multi-Agent Task Allocation

Work Assignment & Coordination

Knowledge Graph

Continuous Optimization & System Improvement

Self-Repair AI

Fault Detection & Health Maintenance

Conceptual flow diagram showing the integrated STC subsystems.

Core Capabilities

Environmental Understanding

AI-based analysis of terrain, resource accessibility, and structural constraints using sparse data from remote sensing platforms.

Modular Infrastructure Design

Parameterized, codified definitions of structures (e.g., shelters, power grids, manufacturing units) enabling rapid synthesis of complex systems.

Autonomous Planning & Optimization

Constraint-aware decision-making over long horizons, optimizing for resilience, energy efficiency, and resource scarcity.

Robotic Construction Integration

Unified interfaces for translating high-level plans into multi-agent commands for autonomous builders and repair systems.

Simulation & Validation

High-fidelity simulation environments for testing infrastructure designs and validating planning outcomes prior to physical execution.

Development Philosophy

  • Incremental Development: Built through real, contained sub-projects, ensuring each addition is grounded in a solvable engineering problem.
  • Standalone Modular Subsystems: Preference for decoupled modules that integrate cleanly, rather than a monolithic dependency structure.
  • Explicit Constraints: Prioritizing transparent, rule-based engineering logic over non-transparent black-box optimisation.
  • Documentation-First: Treating documentation and codified knowledge as a first-class engineering output, not an afterthought.

Current Status & Scope

Current Focus (Phase 2: System Formalisation)

Phase 2 focuses on formalising the core architecture of the Standard Template Construct (STC) into a coherent, internally consistent system. The objective at this stage is not high-fidelity realism or deployment readiness, but the establishment of a stable conceptual and computational foundation upon which more advanced capabilities can be built without requiring structural redesign.

This phase emphasises correctness of abstraction, clarity of system boundaries, and explicit modelling of dependencies between missions, environments, resources, agents, and modules. The resulting system serves as a scaffold for experimentation, validation, and future extension.

  • STC Simulation Core: Establishing a discrete-time simulation environment for evaluating resource flows, system behaviour, and constraint satisfaction over extended durations.
  • Knowledge Representation: Defining the initial syntax and data structures for encoding missions, modules, agents, environments, and constraints in a machine-reasonable form.
  • Baseline Module Definitions: Implementing simplified structural, power, and life-support modules to validate system interactions rather than optimise performance.
  • Validation & Scaffolding: Developing tooling to test internal consistency, dependency resolution, and failure propagation within the simulated system.

Long-Term Intent

The STC is not merely a student project; it is designed to evolve over decades. It is intended to be a foundational, open-source system capable of outliving its original creator, providing a reliable reference for future research and engineering initiatives focused on establishing permanent, autonomous infrastructure.