Modular space vehicle boards, control software, reprogramming, and failure recovery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- uploading a new code file, via a microprocessor of a space vehicle, to a local flash drive in a different file than an at-launch code file;
storing a location of the new code file, by the microprocessor, in a register of a flash-based field programmable gate array (FPGA); and
reading the register and loading the file code, by the microprocessor, into a static random access memory (SRAM)-based FPGA.
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Abstract
A space vehicle may have a modular board configuration that commonly uses some or all components and a common operating system for at least some of the boards. Each modular board may have its own dedicated processing, and processing loads may be distributed. The space vehicle may be reprogrammable, and may be launched without code that enables all functionality and/or components. Code errors may be detected and the space vehicle may be reset to a working code version to prevent system failure.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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uploading a new code file, via a microprocessor of a space vehicle, to a local flash drive in a different file than an at-launch code file; storing a location of the new code file, by the microprocessor, in a register of a flash-based field programmable gate array (FPGA); and reading the register and loading the file code, by the microprocessor, into a static random access memory (SRAM)-based FPGA. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the program configured to cause a microprocessor to:
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store one or more uploaded code files in a flash bank of a space vehicle; store a current flash bank to use in a register of a flash-based field programmable gate array (FPGA) of the space vehicle; read the register of the flash-based FPGA; jump to the current flash bank to use; and run the one or more uploaded code files via a boot loader. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A space vehicle, comprising:
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memory storing computer program code; and at least one microcontroller configured to execute the stored computer program code, the at least one microcontroller configured to; check whether a short watchdog interrupt has been received, when the short watchdog interrupt has been received, check whether a first error is detected, when the first error is detected, check whether a number of resets has reached a maximum number of resets, when the maximum number of resets has been reached, reset the space vehicle to an at-launch code state, when the maximum number of resets has not been reached, reset the space vehicle to a most recently uploaded code state, check whether a long watchdog interrupt has been received, when the long watchdog interrupt has been received, check whether a second error is detected, and when the second error is detected, reset the space vehicle to an at-launch code state. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification