The evaluation of a SoC processor as an on-board computer for a low earth orbit satellite

• Main Author: Jordaan, Jacques
• Other Authors: Berner, H.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Artificial satellites > Control systems; Interactive computer systems; Dissertations > Electronic engineering; Theses > Electronic engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50487

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of commercial-off-the-shelf components in low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems has become a very popular design trend. Not only are many of these components sufficiently radiation tolerant, but are also less expensive than their space qualified counterparts. Commercial processors are already used in the on-board computer (OBC) of satellites like SUNSAT 2004, CanX and SNAP-I. With the increasing demand for smaller, less expensive satellites and a shorter time-to-market window, the feasibility of implementing a satellite's OBC as a system-on-a-chip (SoC) is now considered. This thesis describes a single-chip implementation, excluding memory, of a LEO microsatellite's OBC on the commercial grade Altera Excalibur embedded processor. A typical satellite OBC system was developed on the Excalibur device to test the functionality and performance of the device as a single-chip OBC. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van kommersiële komponente in lae aardwentelbaan satelliet stelsels het 'n baie gewilde ontwerps neiging geword. Meeste van hierdie komersiële komponente is nie net voldoende bestand teen die radiasie in die ruimte nie, maar boonop goedkoper as soortgelyke komponente wat spesifiek vir de ruimte vervaardig is. Kommersiële verwerkers word alreeds gebruik in die aanboord rekenaar (AR) van satelliete soos SUNSAT 2004, CanX and SNAP-I. Met die aahoudende aanvraag vir kleiner, goedkoper en 'n korter ontwikkelings tydperk, word die implementering van 'n satelliet se AR as 'n stelsel-op-'nskyfie nou oorweeg. Hierdie tesis beskryf 'n enkel-skyfie implementasie, geheue uitgesluit, van 'n lae aardwentelbaan mikrosatelliet se AR op die kommersiële Altera Excalibur geïntregreerde verwerker. 'n Tipiese AR stelsel was ontwikkelop die Excalibur verwerker om die funksionaliteit en werkverrigting van die toestel as 'n enkel-skyfie AR te toets.