Dependable MPSoC-Based Mixed-Criticality Systems for Space Applications

Space applications' requirements, especially when scientific payload is considered, are rapidly increasing. A way to satisfy such requirements without increasing too much space, weight, and power consumption of the on-board equipment, is to exploit capabilities of new multi-processor system-on-chips (MPSoCs). A MPSoC-based computer would allow integration on a single equipment of several applications. However, there is not any space-qualified MPSoC, yet. This paper describes a mixed-criticality system (MCS) implementing a prototypical scientific payload computer for a space mission. The main focus is on the issue of using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) MPSoC in radioactive environment to deploy MCS implementing a payload computer. The paper states the beforementioned issue and a set of countermeasures to detect issues. The system is evaluated for dependability against single event effects (SEEs) through fault-injection simulation experiments. Results of such experiments are used to compute availability figures of a payload computer implementing described countermeasures, considering the radiation environment of the geostationary orbit.