PSI Agent: Tool Development (fast-iteration build via akd-ext)

PSI Agent: Tool Development

Tracking · Parent EPIC: #377 — PSI Agent · Tool scope: #500 · PI: 26.4 Agent Development
Collaboration: NASA PSI (Physical Science Informatics) team

Context

Once the tool scope is agreed (#500), the PSI agent's tools need to actually get built. This issue covers that build — deliberately starting fast and lightweight so we can iterate on tool behavior with the PSI team before committing to a permanent home.

The build happens in nasa-impact/akd-ext (the misc extension space to akd-core). Using akd-ext lets us prototype, wire up, and test tools quickly against real PSI workflows without being blocked on the "where do these live long-term" question — that is handled separately in the hosting/deployment issue (#504).

What this issue covers

• Implement the PSI agent tools defined in the tool scope doc (#500), inside nasa-impact/akd-ext.
• Make each tool callable by the PSI agent end-to-end, via the agreed interface (e.g. MCP tool).
• Iterate quickly on tool inputs/outputs and behavior against representative PSI data/workflows.
• Validate each tool does what the scope intends — enough to demo and collect PSI feedback.

Done when

• Tools from the #500 scope doc implemented in nasa-impact/akd-ext.
• PSI agent can invoke the tools end-to-end (interface per scope doc, e.g. MCP).
• Tools exercised against representative PSI data/workflows; behavior validated with the PSI team.
• Learnings and any interface changes fed back into the scope doc.
• Ready to hand off to the hosting/deployment decision (#504).

Depends on

• #500 — tool scope document (defines what to build). Build can begin per tool as soon as its scope is firm.

Out of scope

• Permanent hosting / deployment of the tools — where they ultimately run is a separate PSI↔AKD decision, tracked in #504. akd-ext here is a fast-iteration staging ground, not the final home.
• Full-agent scope (agent hosting, agent ownership) — broader EPIC #377 concern.

Start by reading the tool scope document in issue #500, then inspect nasa-impact/akd-ext to find its extension and agent-integration entry points. Implement the scoped tools there, exercise them against representative PSI workflows, and verify end-to-end invocation and feedback-driven interface updates before handoff to #504.