Command- and Data-Handling
The working group designs and develops innovative hardware solutions for on-board data processing systems for space applications in the area of conflict between reliability, high-performance data processing and resource efficiency with the aim of constantly advancing and expanding the possibilities for on-board autonomy. As a result, our solutions enable demanding space missions in Earth orbit and beyond.
Typical solutions for data processing systems on spacecraft are as individual as the missions they serve. Particularly in the context of the production of prototypes for flight missions at the DLR Institute of Space Systems, the challenge is to meet the different requirements from mission to mission while using the available resources as efficiently as possible. This applies both in the development of the subsystem and in the system context. In order to meet the goal of serving demanding space missions from this perspective, the group focuses on the following areas:
- Subsystem development in a system context is one of the special features of the DLR Institute of Space Systems, as we not only combine the entire competence for system development in the institute, but also cover the adjacent areas in the field of avionics in addition to data processing in the department. This makes it possible not only to look at challenges beyond the subsystem, but also to analyze aspects between the subsystems and generate synergies. In addition, networking within DLR allows us to consider developments across the entire life cycle, including operation.
- Process optimization summarizes the activities in which we apply new procedures and develop methods to improve the development processes in the area of data processing. In particular, this includes model-based development, continuous verification and process automation.
- Novel operational aspects and concepts describe concepts and technologies that support the implementation of missions. The focus here is particularly on the areas of on-board autonomy and on-board data processing as well as service-oriented and networked systems.
- Scalable avionics summarizes aspects that aim to make the avionics, i.e. the electronic components of a spacecraft and in particular the on-board data processing, flexible to use, especially with regard to functionality, reliability and performance. Modularity helps here, as does the application of the results from the aforementioned focal points.