Speaker
Mr
Gianluca Aranci
(Thales Alenia Italy)
Description
In the continuous trend to miniaturize electronic equipment for space applications, Thales Alenia Space has managed the evolution of the On Board Computer integrating more functions and features as soon as relevant key technologies become available. These developments permitted to improve competitiveness, mass, volume and power consumption budgets at system level. Further enhancements of the OBC are currently on going, in a trend similar to the one observed in the consumer electronics leading to the Smartphone, where many functions and sensors, formerly spread over many gadgets, have been integrated in a single compact product.
In the first part of the presentation the author recall a brief history of platform computer evolution in the last 20 years, showing the convergence from many units (Computers and Remote Terminals) to a single one.
The second part shows current developments at TASI, focused to integrate GNSS Receiver, Gyroscope and Mass Memory storage functions in the Platform computer. A synthesis of Pros and Cons are presented, as experienced during the course of the development.
The last section part of the presentation deal with new perspectives offered by introduction of COTS, Multicore Processor, Ultra Large Reprogrammable FPGA and deep sub-micron silicon technology. The challenges related to this opportunities are briefly analysed from the equipment manufacturer point of view.
