A radiation-tolerant On-Board Data Handling (OBDH) unit that uses software-based fault protection and commercial components, offering standard UNISEC bus interfaces for satellite integration.
Robust On-Board Data Handling Unit
A radiation-tolerant On-Board Data Handling (OBDH) unit that uses software-based fault protection and commercial components, offering standard UNISEC bus interfaces for satellite integration.
Description
The Robust On-Board Data Handling Unit (OBDH) implements a new concept of radiation protection achieved through software rather than radiation-hardened hardware, relying on advanced FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery) and redundancy approaches. This approach has demonstrated very reliable performance in orbit. Despite using only commercial (COTS) chips rather than space-qualified radiation-hardened components, the unit is able to handle the radiation environment of polar LEO orbits, having operated for more than 5 years without any interruption of service. The OBDH is equipped with standard UNISEC bus electrical interfaces, enabling straightforward integration into satellite systems that follow the UNISEC bus standard. A product flyer is available for further technical details.
Specifications
| Radiation protection approach | Software-based, using advanced FDIR and redundancy |
|---|---|
| Component type | Commercial (COTS) chips |
| Flight heritage | More than 5 years without any interruption of service in polar LEO |
| Bus interface | Standard UNISEC bus electrical interfaces |
| Momentum | 2.0 mNms |
| Nominal rotational speed | 19,000 rpm |
| Nominal torque | 0.1 mNm |
| Mass | < 20 g |
| Dimensions | 20x20x20 mm |
| Supply voltage | 5 V |
| Operating voltage | 3.3-8.4 V |
| Power consumption (nominal) | < 400 mW |
| Power consumption (peak) | < 1000 mW |
| Nom. ambient temperature | 0 °C |
| Operating temperature | -50 to +50 °C |
| Survival temperature | -60 to +100 °C |
| Lifetime | 5 years |
