A Controller Area Network-Based Telemetry and Command System for Small Space Experiments

Abstract

Controller area networks (CANs) have been used since the mid-198Os to connect microcontrollers and allow them to exchange data in an error resistant manner. Until recently, their use has been limited to industrial and automotive applications. The Polymer Battery Experiment (PBEX) is a small spaceflight system developed at APL that will use a CAN to interface its telemetry and command system to the spacecraft computer. This type of network is attractive for space applications because of its built in error detection and because it is a two wire network, which helps to reduce spacecraft weight. This article describes the PBEX CAN and discusses the implementation issues that were encountered during the design of the experiment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA365501

Entities

People

  • F. Charles Dumont
  • Joseph J. Suter
  • Paul D. Schwartz

Organizations

  • Johns Hopkins University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Central Processing Units
  • Circuit Boards
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Data Rate
  • Digital Communications
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Microcontrollers
  • Network Protocols
  • Network Topology
  • Networks
  • Printed Circuit Boards
  • Printed Circuits
  • Radiation
  • Semiconductors
  • Spacecraft
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers