Absolute scalar magnetometer
controller design
Jean BERTRAND, Jérémie POULY – CNES
Axel BONESS, François BERTRAND – CEA LETI
Workshop - November 2011 - Toulouse
CNES interest in SoCKET project
 Constat / Lessons learned :
 Embedded software functions are more and more complex
(autonomy, onboard data processing)
 Increasing capacity of FPGA and ASIC suitable for space
applications implies design complexity (soft IP µP core)
Nevertheless, current HW and SW processes
are independent and show little collaboration
 Need for a mixed (HW/SW) design environment
 Fast prototyping tools / architecture exploration
 Model based validation early in the development cycle
 Strong needs for HW/SW optimization for payload digital
processing unit. Often scientific DPU are very “mission specific”
and use all (and more) available computing resources.
Workshop - November 2011
CNES goals in SoCKET project
 Critical Embedded System design is our daily concern :
 Support to scientific payloads under laboratories responsibility.
 Small Satellites platform developed by CNES itself.
CNES wants to offer a “ready to use” design environment
(process, toolbox, architecture and building blocks)
 And also :
 Work together with space industry
towards innovation
 Transfer SoCKET learning to our
scientific partners
Workshop - November 2011
CNES case study
 In SoCKET, CNES wants to carry the needs of scientific
laboratories involved in space projects
 Case study based on existing system : ASM SWARM,
developed by CEA LETI.
Workshop - November 2011
ASM SWARM
 Helium 4 optical pumping magnetometer
 Goal : absolute measurement of magnetic field (scalar & vector)
Gérard Cottet
Workshop - November 2011
ASM SWARM : complexity
Workshop - November 2011
ASM SWARM : specificities
 Low frequency :
 10 kHz in HW
 1 kHz in SW
 But large HW datapath :
 32 bits at endpoint
 96 bits at largest point
 Calculus in HW
 Management & some computing in SW
Workshop - November 2011
Evaluation
 Mission :
 Evaluate as a small entity our capacity to integrate
SoCKET flow to deliver a spatial ASIC
 3 stages:
1) Modelize SWARM to master SoCKET tools
2) Cosimulate HW and SW
3) Alternative HW architecture exploration and
optimisation
Workshop - November 2011
Relevance
 Full adoption of SoCKET flow
 Specification
 Modelisation
 Cosimulation
 Architecture exploration
 Development
 Constrained environment
 Limited human resources
 Definite application
 Spatial constraints
Workshop - November 2011
Questions
Workshop - November 2011