Abstract:

Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) components are one of the key aspects of New Space concept. These enable completely new system capabilities, while other features of COTS approaches would not reach sufficient quality or reliability to use COTS as is in space. As well, New Space demands new professionals, capable of develop space platforms in shortened timelines, compared to traditional space systems. This need requires novel approaches for on board software development, among others.

Anyway, due to the youth of New Space technology, not suitable or already available Hardware in the Loop (HIL) based training and development test benches exist. The usage of COTS technology opens up an interesting scenario, the possibility of train students and professionals with flight intended on board computers. Prior to the interest in New Space methodologies, following a traditional space system development; this sort of training was not possible at all due to on board equipment takes long time to be manufactured and cost dozens of thousand euros / dollars.

The presented approach is the development of a complete HIL test bench, from low level peripherals programming, to highest level ones such Real-Time task management, for a suitable New Space computational system such Xylinx Zynq Ultra Scale. This family comprises low cost nature, high availability with included reliability features.

The software part, is being developed as an additional hardware support blockset for MATLAB/Simulink Embedded Coder; that automatically generates Zynq 7000 Central Processor Unit (CPU) oriented MISRA C code (The Motor Industry Software Reliability Association - guidelines for safety programming using C language) from almost any Simulink models, including models that require continuous-time capable solvers such Runge-Kutta. From the first day, students and professionals are capable of working with a computational system that is the same as the on-board flight one, with the same capabilities and limitations. Thanks to the high level of abstraction provided by Simulink and the custom hardware blockset, an Agile methodology is enabled to develop software for this flight capable on-board computer, according to New Space shortened development time needs.

As well it is possible to replace simulated sensors and actuators with real ones; while the working environment remains the same. Thanks to this, the HIL test bench presents itself as an excellent tool for end of degree projects. Currently, this HIL enabled test bench is being used for the on-board software for a Cubesat based mission too; typical functionalities such Attitude and Orbit Control systems (AOCS) are being in development.

As last, desired on board capabilities that are not possible in the past (LEON 2 / 3 space grade processor era) are being evaluated, due to the increase in computational capabilities and RAM memory.

Examples and experimental results, are provided along further pages. Such an entire space environment simulator developed by students and fully integrated by a master thesis end of project degree. Along with another end of degree project that research around the development of a fine pointing mode, based in a multiplicative extended Kalman filter. These training examples are fully illustrated.

Keywords:

New Space, Training, New platforms, Hardware in the Loop, Agile methodologies, Teach coding skills, Project based learning, High abstraction.