VMEbus technology applications
Telecommand, telemetry, ranging, and tracking
Alenia Spazio-Laben, Italy, is owned by Finmeccanica, the largest aerospace group in Italy. Laben develops ground stations for satellite control using telemetry, telecommand, and ranging data processing. A typical ground station is equipped with a monitoring and control computer managing the overall station and some auxiliary elements for:
- Telecommand data generation
- Telemetry data processing
- Radio-frequency signal conditioning
- Antenna assembly
- Ranging and tracking data management
These ground stations are flexible, reconfigurable systems based on open platforms, such as VMEbus and others, for widespread applications. The Euclid Real-Time Processor (RTP) features high data rate acquisition (600 Mbps), multisatellite systems (CCSDS, Landsat, ERS-1), and a multimission system. The dual Pentium workstation is equipped with a Laben High-Speed Frame Synchronizer (HFS300), an IRIG-B module, and a Fibre Channel RAID array. The HFS300 is made with extensive use of FPA devices that provide Reed-Solomon decoding, pseudo de-randomizing, turbo decoding, and an onboard telemetry simulator.
The Master Test Processor (MTP) fits test requirements and increases test equipment portability and flexibility, thus speeding up test activities. It is connected via Ethernet or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) to the front end, which is an intelligent computer system physically interfacing to the unit under test and handling real-time communications according to the interface protocol and rate. The MTP is based on VMEbus technology, housing off-the-shelf or Laben-designed I/O boards. The MTP connects the test operator through a user-friendly, windows-based interface allowing command sending, real-time parameter monitoring, visualization and archiving, user-written test sequences, and test reports generation.
High-precision positioning and movement/locating in the vacuum environment are key requirements for ground calibration and testing sophisticated detection and imaging sensors. The Mechanical Optical Ground Support Equipment (MOGSE) is already operated for the European Photo Imaging Camera (EPIC) payload flown aboard the X-ray Multiple Mirror (XMM) satellite.
MEN, Germany, has developed high-precision, computer-based 3D measuring instruments. They are used in the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, fine mechanics and optics, and development and research. The smallest deviations in work piece length, shape, or surface contour can be measured. The computer can automatically compensate for geometric errors, vibration, temperature, and pressure, making the complete production process more stable. 3D device axis control is accomplished with a VMEbus system based on a PowerPC single board computer (A12) with a 603e core. The application code is stored in the onboard CompactFlash. One of the M-Module slots (M45) is used to add eight UARTs to the four UARTs already on the CPU card. A second slot houses an M-Module that delivers the 32 binary inputs and outputs (M66) required for the application. Using M-Modules is a very flexible way to configure a computer system tailored to application requirements by using standard off-the-shelf hardware components.
European event
CeBIT trade fair at Hannover, Germany, the world’s largest IT event, ended with a return to higher numbers of visitors after several years of decreasing. This year, about 480,000 visitors from 100 different countries had a look at products from approximately 6,000 exhibitors from 77 countries. Of the 6,000 exhibitors, about 55 percent were foreign companies. The largest numbers came from Asia (Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Hong Kong, in that order). These four countries comprised almost 45 percent of the foreign exhibitors. Companies from the United States represented less than 6 percent of the foreign exhibitors. Russia was this year’s partner country. CeBIT kicked off about ?11 billion (approximately U.S. $14 billion) in new investments. Figure 1, courtesy of Deutsche Messe, AG, Hannover, Germany, shows the conference center on the fairgrounds in the center of 26 halls.
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High-definition images video and mobile products (notebooks, PDAs, and so on) were selected by journalists as the most trendy, innovative products. Security is now a very big topic and was presented in the booths and sessions. Many security issues could be demonstrated at a full-function computer center, which included data, network and physical protection, access control, UPS, climatic control, and event reporting. An interesting application came from a company in Bulgaria, Daisy Technology Ltd. They developed a Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) that does not use GPS to check position and report it back to the home base. It uses free wireless Internet on gas stations or other hotspots via built-in WiFi modules. If a vehicle approaches such a hotspot, it automatically “calls home” to report its whereabouts. First-time innovations were shown by about 250 companies in the “future parc” hall. “Smart” textiles have become very trendy. There were T-shirts that can report body temperatures or jackets that can also be used as Bluetooth mobile phones, and these textiles survive cleaning in the washing machine.
German authorities confiscated several van loads full of mobile navigation devices, mobile phones, DVD players, and similar products from Asian companies. These were supposedly unauthorized copies of patented products from established companies. Main inputs to this action came from the Italian patent agency Sisvel, which handles patent matters for France Telecom, France, Institut fuer Rundfunktechnik, Germany, Philips, The Netherlands, and other companies, mostly concerning MP3 music on digital video films.
European news
Venture Development Corporation has unveiled the Platinum and Gold embedded board vendor rating awards. European companies Concurrent Technologies, Kontron, and Lippert made it to Platinum, and DIGITAL-LOGIC, Diversified Technologies, Inova, and Thales Computers were awarded Gold.
For further information, e-mail Hermann at [email protected].