FPGA Based On-Board Computer System for the "Flying Laptop" Micro-Satellite
Abstract
The availability of new high density FPGA technologies enables innovative approaches to the architecture of onboard computer systems (OBCS) for demanding small satellite applications. In the paper, we present the architecture of a highly integrated satellite computer exploit- ing the powerful features of Xilinx's Virtex-II Pro FPGA technology. The computing resources of the "Flying Laptop" satellite are provided by a single OBCS performing the control functions of a traditional satellite bus controller (SBC) as well as all tasks of the payload data handling and processing system (PDH). The unification of the different computing functions on board the satellite onto a single but highly redundant computer system results in clear-cut system structure and provides a high degree of fault tolerance with minimal resource requirements. The "Flying Laptop" micro satellite is under development at the Institute of Space Systems at the Universität Stuttgart. The primary mission objective is to demonstrate and qualify new small-satellite technologies for the future projects. In addition, the three main scientific payloads of the satellite will allow performing a number of ambitious earth observation experiments. According to the primary mission objectives, the OBCS itself will be a subject for evaluations of its innovative concepts and for qualification of its underlying hardware.
- Publication:
-
DASIA 2007 - Data Systems In Aerospace
- Pub Date:
- August 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007ESASP.638E..38H