Hardware-in-the-Loop Laboratory at DLR Bremen

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To test electronics hardware and embedded software, DLR developed a hardware-in-the-loop laboratory at the Institute of Space Systems in Bremen. The aim of this laboratory is to provide a controlled, simulated environment for an array of sensors which allows a single device or integrated system to be fully tested. Using device specific hardware stimulators, simulated input can be generated for most sensors. The laboratory current hosts a Spirent GPS satellite constellation simulator as well as roof antenna, a sky field simulator from Jena Optronik, and a three-axis Helmholtz coil and has space to host additional hardware. By synchronizing the stimulators with a real time computing interface, an integrated system of sensors can be tested together. A dSPACE real-time simulator is used to interface with the hardware stimulators and control the hardware-in-the-loop simulations.  Several projects have used the lab to test their systems, including the SHEFEX2 Hybrid Navigation System and Asteroid Finder.