Session
Technical Session IX: Student Competition
Abstract
The Responsive Space Initiative, the ability for mission-specific payloads and support systems to be rapidly integrated within a short period, is a goal within the spacecraft community. However, as components are added to the spacecraft, the complex interactions between subsystems must be noted and, if possible, modeled. This process is extremely time consuming and if not done properly, can be a major contributor to spacecraft failure. A new paradigm is needed for Rapid Integration and System Modeling. At the 2006 Conference on Small Satellites in Logan, Utah, Washington University and Santa Clara University demonstrated Rapid Integration and Testing by functionally combining their respective satellites, Akoya and Onyx. Both vehicles were connected via a common power and data wiring harness, allowing one spacecraft to operate any device on either vehicle. Despite possessing minimal prior knowledge of the other school’s subsystems, functional integration was achieved in less than thirty minutes. This was accomplished by using a distributed computing architecture with a standardized interface and communication protocol; this architecture allows each subsystem to be developed separately and rapidly integrated into the spacecraft. The Dallas EEProm Equipment Profile (DEEP) Architecture extends this standardized bus to include improved support for rapid integration and system modeling. DEEP is a protocol standard using the Maxim/Dallas 1-Wire bus, which allows for low level control and monitoring of the spacecraft using commercialoff- the-shelf devices including memory and sensor devices. DEEP specifies a standard with which a representation of subsystem functionality is encoded within the subsystem itself, allowing for the creation of a satellite-wide model paralleling the physical integration of the spacecraft. This allows for the creation of a stockpile of flight DEEP enabled subsystems, ready to be rapidly composed into a functional spacecraft. Each subsystem includes a subsystem model, with parameters such as thermal and power characteristics, allowing an anomaly management system to identify offnominal conditions through model-based reasoning. Additional functionality includes automated ground operations and ground integration and test software generation, standard command planning, resource allocation, and other areas of command and control. DEEP is currently being developed at Santa Clara University and Washington University in Saint Louis as part of the University Nanosatellite competition operated by the Air Force Research Laboratory. This paper describes the current success of both universities with rapid integration, current development of the DEEP architecture, and future advances regarding responsive space.
Presentation Slides
DEEP: Dallas EEProm Equipment Profile for Rapid Integration and Automatic System Modeling
The Responsive Space Initiative, the ability for mission-specific payloads and support systems to be rapidly integrated within a short period, is a goal within the spacecraft community. However, as components are added to the spacecraft, the complex interactions between subsystems must be noted and, if possible, modeled. This process is extremely time consuming and if not done properly, can be a major contributor to spacecraft failure. A new paradigm is needed for Rapid Integration and System Modeling. At the 2006 Conference on Small Satellites in Logan, Utah, Washington University and Santa Clara University demonstrated Rapid Integration and Testing by functionally combining their respective satellites, Akoya and Onyx. Both vehicles were connected via a common power and data wiring harness, allowing one spacecraft to operate any device on either vehicle. Despite possessing minimal prior knowledge of the other school’s subsystems, functional integration was achieved in less than thirty minutes. This was accomplished by using a distributed computing architecture with a standardized interface and communication protocol; this architecture allows each subsystem to be developed separately and rapidly integrated into the spacecraft. The Dallas EEProm Equipment Profile (DEEP) Architecture extends this standardized bus to include improved support for rapid integration and system modeling. DEEP is a protocol standard using the Maxim/Dallas 1-Wire bus, which allows for low level control and monitoring of the spacecraft using commercialoff- the-shelf devices including memory and sensor devices. DEEP specifies a standard with which a representation of subsystem functionality is encoded within the subsystem itself, allowing for the creation of a satellite-wide model paralleling the physical integration of the spacecraft. This allows for the creation of a stockpile of flight DEEP enabled subsystems, ready to be rapidly composed into a functional spacecraft. Each subsystem includes a subsystem model, with parameters such as thermal and power characteristics, allowing an anomaly management system to identify offnominal conditions through model-based reasoning. Additional functionality includes automated ground operations and ground integration and test software generation, standard command planning, resource allocation, and other areas of command and control. DEEP is currently being developed at Santa Clara University and Washington University in Saint Louis as part of the University Nanosatellite competition operated by the Air Force Research Laboratory. This paper describes the current success of both universities with rapid integration, current development of the DEEP architecture, and future advances regarding responsive space.
