Abstract
In this paper, a new approach is presented to assess the risk of using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices in space systems under consideration of radiation effects that can dramatically affect reliability and performance. In the NewSpace era, the use of COTS has become mandatory, since typical space-qualified (class-1) electrical, electronic and electromechanical (EEE) components for space missions are no longer attractive due to their extremely high costs, long lead times and low performance. This paper sets out the usual constraints for COTS devices and proposes a guideline on how to select non-space-qualified components and when class-1 EEE devices are recommended for use.
Highlights
The use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electrical, electronic and electromechanical (EEE) parts in space missions was often avoided in the past
This paper primarily aims at radiation effects—including total ionizing dose (TID) and single-event effects (SEE)—and their risk assessment for space system design when the use of COTS shall be considered
A new risk-assessment approach has been presented for the use of COTS EEE parts in space systems, primarily under consideration of radiation effects
Summary
The use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electrical, electronic and electromechanical (EEE) parts in space missions was often avoided in the past. The development of those satellites was mainly driven by universities and academia with limited budgets and restrictions on personal resources, with the aim of providing the same effort as for classic space missions This requires a different engineering approach and the use of COTS electronics that are affordable and do not have long lead times. This paper proposes an approach for risk assessment for the use of COTS devices in space systems and a potential guideline for their selection. FMECA is executed as a bottom-up analysis, wherein the effects of the identified failure modes are followed up to the boundaries of the product or process under investigation [5].
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