Speaker
Description
Summary
Among ESA duties there is the need to provide European based solutions at competitive costs for key space systems components. This is the driver for our research and development approach. In particular, emphasis is being placed on the development of standard building blocks which may be used across multiple missions. Such an approach requires a clear strategy in terms of agreed avionic architectures, functional elements and the standardisation of interfaces and protocols. Cooperation is also required with software disciplines to ensure that hardware elements can be integrated with a minimum of effort.
Current electronic systems R&D activities at ESA will be presented, with particular focus on:
1) current requirements on environmental constraints and radiation (TID and SEE) for different classes of missions, use of COTS components, standardized ESA approach.
2) how to achieve reliability, some examples
3) how to achieve recurrence - role of standardization
4) ASIC vs. FPGA issue, development of an European Rad-Hard reprogrammable FPGA, European Digital and Mixed ASIC rad hard sources
5) DARE and DARE+ rad-hard by design libraries
6) Development (and availability) of standard IP cores
7) Some words about LEON-2(and 3/4) fault tolerant processor IP core and its availability outside ESA.
8) The particular case of memories, and challenges of the sub 45nm components (and COTS components in general).
9) Some lessons learnt, in flight and on Earth.
The correct implementation of a system-wide radiation hadness assurance policy especially for what it concerns margins is of paramount importance for space missions. Specific activities to reduce the “hidden” and explicit margins in radiation hardness assurance are needed. Reduced margins are possible, with an accurate measurement, modelling and simulation of radiation environment and its effects, and this will be a major cost and competitive driver for space industries.
A systematic approach towards the accurate measurement of the radiation environment (both for TID and SEE) at unit and component level is being considered.
Some detailed information on the development of the future set of European radiation monitors will be also given, with informations on
1) Next Generation Radiation Monitor specifications and outline
2) Standard rad hard front end ASIC for radiation and particle monitors
3) Rad Hard Radiation Monitor for Jupiter mission
4) APS-based Miniaturized Radiation Monitor
