picoRTU system

Highly modular Remote Terminal Unit system for LEO small & micro satellite missions

ISO 19683

IPC Class 3+

TRL 7

In-house MAIT

CAD model
Request
ICD
Download

The robust picoRTU modular system is designed to meet the space industry's demands for faster time to market while reducing non-recurrent costs and simplifying the integration and verification processes. The picoRTU system can function either as a standalone base unit or, through a stacked modular approach, as a collection of interconnected add-on units.

A variety of unit models are available, each offering different types of ECSS-compliant user interfaces. This flexibility allows the system to be efficiently tailored on a mission-by-mission basis, with minimal non-recurrent charges.

Would you require further information or a quote, get in contact with us:

Request quotation

Fault tolerant by design

The picoRTU units incorporate radiation tolerant FPGA, with EDAC protected internal memories. System-on-Chip implementation incorporates SkyLabs’s PicoSkyFT Fault Tolerant processor core, which is Radiation Hardened by Design. The design is enhanced with 3-level FDIR hierarchical approach in order to increase robustness of COTS based components to single event effects. In addition, special countermeasures are considered in order to mitigate transient events or soft errors.

Interoperability

The picoRTU interoperability via Remote Terminal Interface is provided by utilizing standardized redundant CAN (ISO 11898-2) interfaces, which are fully compliant with ECSS-E-ST-50-15C - CANopen protocol at the application layer. Its utilization on top of the CAN physical layer gains added value in terms of interoperability across picoRTUs or any other ECSS-E-ST-50-15C CAN based compliant equipment.

Unified firmware architecture

The picoRTU units shares a single, universal and qualified firmware, based on real-time OS. The firmware architecture follows SAVOIR RTU Functional and Operability Requirements (SAVOIR-GS-003). The units’ firmware is pre-configured in production (following well established approach in automotive industry) to support a dedicated hardware configuration.

Versatile ground supporting software

skyEGSE-GUI tool primarily enables picoRTU parameters configuration, such as: network parameters, user interfaces, characteristics, TM sampling rates, TM logging, TM conditioning, managing TM/TC list, etc. The SW tool additionally supports picoRTU system integration test and verification during assembly and integration, either on the bench or satellite itself. In addition, the software can be used for real time monitoring of housekeeping and user TM data, while providing full TC control for verification purposes of connected actuators, network management, etc. picoRTU units together with skyEGSE-GUI tool represent a turnkey solution, therefore being one of the competitive advantages over the state-of-the-art RTU solutions.

Intelligent Features

The picoRTU system is based on a distributed intelligence that enables higher level of subsystem autonomy. Possible use cases that can be performed by incorporating picoRTU units providing higher level of autonomy for New Space on-board platforms are:
• Thermal Control System
• Motor Control System
• Redundancy Management
• Optimized Housekeeping Telemetry

Standardised user interfaces

The picoRTU system provides discrete user interfaces that are compliant with ECSS-E-ST-50-14C specifications. In addition, picoRTU units also provide a variety of other interfaces which can also be tailored to customer specific requirements, as for example digital or analog power control like control of BLDC or stepper motors.

Modular distributed system

The picoRTU system offers versatile options, functioning seamlessly as an independent base unit or adopting a modular approach by interconnecting multiple add-on units in a stacked configuration. In a stacked solution the latter case the internal power management bus and RTI are shared over internal extension connector, but only the base-board in stack provide external RTI. From mechanical point of view, picoRTUs units are utilized as equal structural building blocks in order to enable modular and seamless assembly, by combining different unit types into the stack and furthermore into the network.

picoRTU Base unit (picortu-base-1)

provides basic set of user interfaces and complete power management of picoRTU stack to increase efficiency in terms of SWaP.

Discrete User interfaces:
• 8x Differential ASM, ASM, TSM1, BSM, or Sun sensors with internal calibration support
• 8x Digital IO (3V3 LVCMOS)
Communication User Interfaces:
• 4x RS422 links
• 2x UART
• 2x CAN
• 2x SPI
• 2x TWI
Power consumption: ≤ 3 W
Dimensions: 107x107x13.5 mm
Mass: ≤ 127 g

picoRTU-analog-1

add-on unit extends the stack with the analog input user interfaces.

Discrete User interfaces:
• 32x Differential ASM, ASM, TSM1, BSM, or Sun sensors with internal calibration support
Power consumption: ≤ 1,5 W
Dimensions: 107x107x13.5 mm
Mass: ≤ 127 g

picoRTU-digital-1

add-on unit extends the stack with digital input/output and communication user interfaces.

Discrete User interfaces:
• 64x Digital IOs
Communication User Interfaces:
• Up to 8x RS422 links
• Up to 2x CAN
• 8x UART
• 4x SPI
• 4x TWI
Power consumption: ≤ 1,5 W
Dimensions: 107x107x13.5 mm
Mass: ≤ 127 g

picoRTU-hp-1

add-on unit extends the stack with high-power command user interfaces with a dedicated power feed connector.

Discrete User interfaces:
• 12x HC/HV-HPC with Arm/Fire support
• Special function: Stepper, BLDC, SADM ,...
Power consumption: ≤ 2,5 W (internal)
Dimensions: 107x107x13.5 mm
Mass: ≤ 127 g

skyEGSE-GUI

Intuitive App for out-of-the-box operation

skyEGSE-GUI application enables you immediate out of the box control, monitoring and management of any SkyLabs satellite equipment. skyEGSE-GUI is a graphical user interface developed on top of NANOsky CMM SDK Application Library module. The application establish a connection with target equipment via skyEGSE-LINK2 dongle or skyEGSE-comm server.

NANOsky CMM™ SDK

Powerful SDK to save you time on Dev

The NANOsky CMM™ SDK implements all functions to support control, monitoring and management of any SkyLabs satellite equipment. All functions are provided in a comprehensive C++ library, with application-level examples for fast prototyping or functionality integration into third-party software. This enables users drastic savings in the development time for integration of SkyLabs equipment functions into customer specific EGSE, AIV/T or even MOC software.