Test, development and deployment infrastructure for spacecube high-performance flight processors
Inventors
Geist, Alessandro • Wise, Travis • Brewer, Cody • Franconi, Nicholas • Wilson, Christopher • Boblitt, Jonathan • Ripley, Robin • Gibson, Alan • Buenfil, Manuel
Assignees
National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Publication Number
US-12197373-B1
Publication Date
2025-01-14
Expiration Date
2041-02-11
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Abstract
Software and hardware for monitoring, testing, and developing communication and electronic systems on spacecrafts. Several systems are provided to monitor, test, and control a next generation SpaceCube, including a RadHard Monitor (RHM), a Mini ASTM Board, an FMC+ ASTM Board, a Mini Evaluation Board, a MEZZ and an Automated Test Suite. The RHM are FPGA IP and hardware configured to monitor COTS components. The Mini ASTM Board connects a Mini Processor Card to an ASTM for electrical testing. FMC+ ASTM Card connects FMC and FMC+ test cards to the ASTM for electrical testing. A Mini Evaluation Board supplies all necessary power to the Mini Processor card. The MEZZ is a multi-use GSE test board that is compatible with several different development platforms in the SpaceCube to allow developers to develop and test their software. The Automated Test Suite provides functional testing of an assembled SpaceCube board.
Core Innovation
The invention provides software and hardware systems for monitoring, testing, and developing communication and electronic systems on spacecrafts, specifically focusing on a next generation SpaceCube (SpaceCube v3.0). The invention includes several systems such as a RadHard Monitor (RHM), Mini ASTM Board, FMC+ ASTM Board, Mini Evaluation Board (MEB), Mezzanine Test Card (MEZZ), and an Automated Test Suite to monitor, test, and control the SpaceCube v3.0 system.
The RadHard Monitor (RHM) consists of FPGA IP and dedicated hardware configured to monitor Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) components that are integrated into the SpaceCube v3.0 to ensure reliability despite the harsh space environment. The Mini ASTM Board and FMC+ ASTM Board form physical interfaces facilitating automated electrical testing (Electrical Interface Continuity/Isolation Testing) between processor or mezzanine cards and an Automated Safe-To-Mate Machine (ASTM). The MEB provides necessary power, interfaces, and development support for the Mini Processor Card, while the MEZZ is a multi-use Ground Support Equipment test board compatible with various SpaceCube platforms to assist software development and hardware testing. The Automated Test Suite provides functional testing of assembled SpaceCube boards to ensure correct performance before deployment.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes eight independent claims covering inventive features related to hardware and software components for monitoring, testing, and developing SpaceCube systems.
RadHard monitor architecture and components
A RadHard FPGA including a Finite State Machine (FSM) configured for startup and configuration of an outer FPGA, watchdog timers, SelectMAP controller, NAND flash memory controller and client, SpaceWire router, register file, and RMAP target, with specific interconnections between these components.
NAND flash memory client functionality
The NAND flash memory client is configured to receive instructions from both the RMAP target and register file and to provide instructions to the NAND flash memory controller, enabling dual communication paths.
Mini ASTM board design for electrical testing
A printed circuit board with a 400-pin connector for receiving the Mini Processor Card and multiple 78-pin D-Sub connectors electrically connected to the first connector, designed to interface with an ASTM machine, with separation of all ground and power nets to detect faults.
FMC+ ASTM board design for FMC or FMC+ card testing
A printed circuit board with a 560-pin connector for receiving FMC or FMC+ cards and multiple 78-pin D-Sub connectors electrically connected to the first connector, designed to connect with an ASTM machine, with all ground and power nets separated for fault detection.
Mini Evaluation Board features
A board comprising a Mini Processor Card connector, multiple low voltage power supplies with a power switch controlling voltage range, an FMC+ connector electrically connected to the Mini connector, several SpaceWire and RS-422 ports connected via transceivers, JTAG programming connectors, and a current monitoring ADC reading current for each power supply.
Mezzanine Test Card features
A multi-use Ground Support Equipment test board with an FMC+ connector compatible with various carrier cards, including a clock generator, CAN PHY with pin header, multiple RS-422 ports, CameraLink interface operable as Base or Medium, Ethernet port, USB port for external memory devices, and a GPIO connector.
Automated functional test suite for SpaceCube processor card
A test suite featuring a Mini Active Evaluation Card coupled to a SpaceCube processor card, test ground support equipment with GSE software capable of sending deterministic test patterns to Design Under Test (DUT) software stored on an FPGA, echo verification, FPGA configuration, and power supply control and monitoring.
Loopback test and backplane connector integration
The automated functional test suite includes external loopback cables connected to FPGA IP cores for PRBS data transmission and verification. The Mini Active Evaluation Card and SpaceCube Processor Card are interconnected through their respective backplane connectors to facilitate testing.
The claims collectively cover hardware configurations, interconnections, functional components, and testing methodologies including monitoring of radiation effects, automated electrical testing interfaces for various SpaceCube boards, evaluation hardware providing power and communication interfaces for development, multifunctional test cards compatible with multiple platforms, and a comprehensive automated test suite integrating software and FPGA IP cores for functional verification of SpaceCube processor cards.
Stated Advantages
Enables reliable operation of high-performance COTS components in the harsh space environment through radiation monitoring and fault mitigation.
Automates electrical interface continuity and isolation testing, improving speed and accuracy over manual methods.
Provides developers with versatile and standardized interfaces for software development and hardware testing without requiring custom hardware development.
Automated testing reduces human error, increases repeatability, and accelerates the verification process of assembled SpaceCube boards.
Documented Applications
Monitoring, testing, and control of SpaceCube v3.0 processor cards used in spacecraft computing systems.
Electrical continuity and isolation testing of SpaceCube Mini Processor Cards using the Mini ASTM Board with an ASTM machine.
Electrical testing of FMC and FMC+ standard cards using the FMC+ ASTM Board with an ASTM machine.
Software development and testing using the Mini Evaluation Board to provide power and interface breakout for SpaceCube Mini Processor Cards.
Development and testing across multiple SpaceCube platforms using the Mezzanine Test Card compatible with various carrier cards.
Comprehensive automated functional testing of SpaceCube processor cards using the Automated Test Suite incorporating software and FPGA IP cores in a Ground Support Equipment environment.
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