Reconfigurable System-on-Chip Data Processing Units for Space Imaging Instruments

Individual data processing units (DPUs) are commonly used for operational control and specific data processing of scientific space instruments. To overcome the limitations of traditional rad-hard or fully commercial design approaches, a system-on-chip (SoC) solution based on state-of-the-art FPGA is introduced. This design has been successfully demonstrated in space on Venus express. From this, a reconfigurable DPU design for future advanced imaging sensors is derived using embedded processing cores. In addition, a SoC design variant is presented based on recently available FPGA technology with integrated hardwired processor, which is capable to support also high end payload applications