Research

Astronomy & Space Sciences

Title :

Leon3/4 Core software simulator development for performance analysis of onboard software

Area of research :

Astronomy & Space Sciences

Focus area :

Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, Quality Assurance

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

URSC is the lead centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation in the development and operationalisation of satellites for communication, navigation and remote sensing applications. In all these spacecrafts, highly advanced embedded systems carryout variety of mission critical functions. A typical example of such a system is the satellite Attitude and Orbit Control Electronics –the Onboard computer which is the brain of the satellite. As per existing practices, Performance analysis and testing of on board software to confirm its functioning in a simulated dynamic environment takes place only when the software is integrated with OBC hardware and system level tests in closed loop mode are conducted. On the contrary, by the new technique called the Software In Loop Simulation (SILS) test method, the on-board software can be fully tested in a software simulated dynamic environment without OBC hardware. This method of closed loop flight software validation is demonstrated with AOCS-BMU software using SILS test bed. In development environments where software requirements are too complex and requirement changes are to be incorporated even during final stages of development, this technique offers an excellent solution in fully validating on board software at source code level before it gets integrated with target hardware. This additional validation step not only improves software quality but also enhances productivity and reduces system turnaround time.

Co-PI:

Shri Kiran Desai, U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru

Organizations involved