Thu, Mar 05, 2009
Developing Wireless Bus For USAF Research Laboratory
Radios are wireless. Telephones are
wireless. Computers are wireless. And in the next step forward in
space systems, satellite equipment could become wireless too.
Northrop Grumman announced this week the company is developing a
robust, radiation-hardened, wireless spacecraft bus under a $4.1
million, 21-month, first phase contract from the US Air Force
Research Laboratory. A spacecraft data bus serves as the electrical
interface between the spacecraft's equipment and payloads.
"The innovative program will redefine spacecraft of the future,"
said John Brock, director of Mission Technology Futures for
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Wireless technology will allow
us to build faster, lower cost and lighter weight spacecraft by
reducing the extensive touch labor, risks and complexities
associated with integrating heavy, copper wire harnesses."
Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will develop a wireless
data bus interface that enhances AFRL's innovative electronics
architecture for spacecraft called Space Plug-n-Play Avionics or
SPA. These electronics have modern features of automatic device
recognition and fault detection, much like commercial computer
interfaces, to enable addition and removal of equipment without any
software or database changes.
The development challenge is to create hardware elements for
managing messages and directing communication traffic in an RF-rich
micro-environment with hundreds of wireless devices.
The initial phase will conclude with a wireless standard, such
as Bluetooth, and will establish protocols, design implementation
guidelines, and address spacecraft unique features such as
security, reliability, and electromagnetic emissions
management.
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