Abstract
Small magnetic sensors are widely used integrated in vehicles, mobile phones, medical devices, etc for navigation, speed, position and angular sensing. These magnetic sensors are potential candidates for space sector applications in which mass, volume and power savings are important issues. This work covers the magnetic technologies available in the marketplace and the steps towards their implementation in space applications, the actual trend of miniaturization the front-end technologies, and the convergence of the mature and miniaturized magnetic sensor to the space sector through the small satellite concept.
Highlights
Curiosity and desire for knowledge about the universe seems to be something inherent in human beings
The present evolution towards miniaturization can be considered to aim for two main objectives: on the one hand, a huge effort is being done in the implementation of FPGAs and ASICs in the front-end of the magnetic sensors and on the other hand, some qualification process are on the road for the adaptation of brand new technologies to space
In the evolution from the conventional satellites to the satellite-on-a-chip concept it seems to be that two lines of magnetic sensors are developing in parallel depending on the particular application
Summary
Curiosity and desire for knowledge about the universe seems to be something inherent in human beings. The upscreening of technology for the extreme conditions in space, in combination with the relatively small market constituted by space applications, often results in a Sensors 2009, 9 huge increase in the cost of each component. In the early stages of space exploration, coinciding with the Cold War, a huge budget was devoted to upscreening and testing of electronic components for space applications. This budget suffered a drastic reduction during the nineties. The slogan ‘Faster, Better, Cheaper’ (FBC) was coined by NASA and Aerospace Corporation [1] This new philosophy consisted in simple and often small satellites developed in a short time and with commercial but highly functional components. This work is focused on magnetic COTS and other small magnetometers, the combination of these sensors with a reduced front-end, and their application for space purposes
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