Automotive electronics in space: combining the advantages of high reliability components with high production volume

IHI (formerly Nissan) Aerospace of Japan, in partnership with AeroAstro Inc., have developed OBCA, the On-Board Computer using Automotive electronics. OBCA is an embedded processing system designed for use in spacecraft and other high-reliability environments. Much of its electronics, particularly the central microprocessor, are taken from an automotive screening process. This carries the advantage of using a known-good, screened component, without the disadvantages often encountered in the space industry of low volume, high price, and limited historical information on an aerospace-specific component. The computer board assembly process is also done to automotive standards, which exceed the mechanical and thermal requirements of typical Earth satellites by a more than adequate margin, but again carries the advantage of being highly automated and cost-effective. By taking these automotive components and assembly facilities and creating a spacecraft processing system with memory correction, watchdog systems, latchup, protection, and other satellite requirements, OBCA is one example of bringing high-reliability high-production automotive technology to the high-reliability low-production market of space systems.