Effective Data Handling Architecture for Small Satellites

Abstract

This paper introduces an efficient data handling architecture for small satellites based on the design of the data handling system of QSAT. QSAT is the satellite which is being developed in Kyushu University together with other universities and local industries. The development concept of the data handling system of QSAT is straightforward, flexible, and reliable. Along with the concept, the hardware and software of the system is being developed. The architecture of the system is a distributed Linear type, using CAN communications as an internal data bus. For hardware, we developed a “Control Board” which is an electric circuit board including the CPU and several useful interfaces. At the same time, we develop the operating system specialized for the distributed system. The operating system is named Quartet2 and it is a simple real-time system that reacts to triggers from the hardware. With the combination of the developed hardware and software, an efficient and robust data handling architecture has been achieved.