Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “PROGRAMMER”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 829 records · Page 46

An on-board processor for a spaceborne Doppler precipitation radar : requirements and preliminary design

Use of Doppler velocity measurement in spaceborne precipitation radar is highly desirable, since it can allow more accurate retrieval of atmospheric latent heating, which depends on both cloud and rain microphysical processes and on dynamical processes, namely, vertical updrafts and downdrafts. However, if the rain within the antenna beam is very non-uniform, biases can result with conventional pulse-pair processing, and more sophisticated processing is required. The solution is a time-frequency approach, which uses the full Doppler spectrum at each point in time. Since precipitation radars normally operate continuously and collect large amounts of data, real-time, on-board processing of data is needed to reduce the data rate. The objective of this work is to develop an on-board data processor for spaceborne Doppler precipitation radar, using field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology. This paper describes the simulations and analysis that have been completed during the first year of the project. This includes both analytical calculations and bit-true simulations that allow the effects of finite word length to be explored. Tradeoffs have also been considered between speed and space within the chosen FPGA part. The results of these analyses have been used to develop a complete set of requirements for the processor. Initial design work has begun, based on these requirements. The design is being implemented in Verilog, and a description of this early design effort is also be given.

on-board processing↗

Intrinsic evolution of controllable oscillators in FPTA-2

Simple one- and two-bit controllable oscillators were intrinsically evolved using only four cells of Field Programmable Transistor Array (FPTA-2). These oscillators can produce different oscillations for different setting of control signals. Therefore, they could be used, in principle, to compose complex networks of oscillators that could exhibit rich dynamical behavior in order to perform a computation or to model a desired system.

evolvable hardware↗

Encoders for block-circulant LDPC codes

In this paper, we present two encoding methods for block-circulant LDPC codes. The first is an iterative encoding method based on the erasure decoding algorithm, and the computations required are well organized due to the block-circulant structure of the parity check matrix. The second method uses block-circulant generator matrices, and the encoders are very similar to those for recursive convolutional codes. Some encoders of the second type have been implemented in a small Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and operate at 100 Msymbols/second.

encoders↗

Implementation of a Coded Modulation for Deep Space Optical Communications

We present an efficient implementation of a coded modulation for the deep space optical channel. NASA designed this so called serially concatenated pulse position modulation (SCPPM) code to provide an optical link that can operate within one dB signal energy of the Shannon capacity during a nominal mission condition from Mars. Here, we describe some of the challenges in realizing the SCPPM decoder on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Through various architectural optimizations, we achieve a 6 Mbps decoder on a single FPGA. Moreover, we demonstrate that it is possible to communicate reliably on an efficient bits-per-photon count in an end-to-end SCPPM coded system.

turbo codes↗

Implementation of a Coded Modulation for Deep Space Optical Communications

We present a field programmable gate array code (FPGA) implementation of a turbo-like decoder for a serially concatenated pulse-position modulation (SCPPM) code. NASA a developed this coded modulation scheme for deep space communications from Mars. Under a nominal mission condition, the decoder complexity by iteratively decoding the modulation and SCPPM coded system can operate within a one dB signal energy gap from capacity. The structure of SCPPM makes direct application of the conventional turbo decoding algorithm very inefficient. Here, we describe techniques to increase the throughput and performance of a hardware SCPPM decoder. using our optimizations, we demonstrate a 6 mega-bits per second (Mbps) decoder realization on a single FPGA. Extension toa higher data rate decoder using multiple FPGAs is readily achievable. Similar codes designed for the optical channel can benefit from our optimization techniques.

modulation↗

Optimizations of a Hardware Decoder for Deep-Space Optical Communications

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has developed a capacity approaching modulation and coding scheme that comprises a serial concatenation of an inner accumulate pulse-position modulation (PPM) and an outer convolutional code [or serially concatenated PPM (SCPPM)] for deep-space optical communications. Decoding of this code uses the turbo principle. However, due to the nonbinary property of SCPPM, a straightforward application of classical turbo decoding is very inefficient. Here, we present various optimizations applicable in hardware implementation of the SCPPM decoder. More specifically, we feature a Super Gamma computation to efficiently handle parallel trellis edges, a pipeline-friendly 'maxstar top-2' circuit that reduces the max-only approximation penalty, a low-latency cyclic redundancy check circuit for window-based decoders, and a high-speed algorithmic polynomial interleaver that leads to memory savings. Using the featured optimizations, we implement a 6.72 megabits-per-second (Mbps) SCPPM decoder on a single field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Compared to the current data rate of 256 kilobits per second from Mars, the SCPPM coded scheme represents a throughput increase of more than twenty-six fold. Extension to a 50-Mbps decoder on a board with multiple FPGAs follows naturally. We show through hardware simulations that the SCPPM coded system can operate within 1 dB of the Shannon capacity at nominal operating conditions.

quadratic polynomial interleaver↗

An FPGA-based Doppler Processor for a Spaceborne Precipitation Radar

Measurement of precipitation Doppler velocity by spaceborne radar is complicated by the large velocity of the satellite platform. Even if successive pulses are well correlated, the velocity measurement may be biased if the precipitation target does not uniformly fill the radar footprint. It has been previously shown that the bias in such situations can be reduced if full spectral processing is used. The authors present a processor based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology that can be used for spectral processing of data acquired by future spaceborne precipitation radars. The requirements for and design of the Doppler processor are addressed. Simulation and laboratory test results show that the processor can meet real-time constraints while easily fitting in a single FPGA.

measurements↗

Independent Single Event Upset Testing of the Xilinx V5QV

In this presentation, we provide a brief glimpse at preliminary single event test results taken from two years of testing of the Xilinx V5QV Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This presentation includes an overview of test philosophy and implementation.

Single Event Upset Testing↗

Design for Review - Applying Lessons Learned to Improve the FPGA Review Process

Flight Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) designs are required to be independently reviewed. This paper provides recommendations to Flight FPGA designers to properly prepare their designs for review in order to facilitate the review process, and reduce the impact of the review time in the overall project schedule.

Process Improvement↗

New Developments in FPGA: SEUs and Fail-Safe Strategies from the NASA Goddard Perspective

It has been shown that, when exposed to radiation environments, each Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device has unique error signatures. Subsequently, fail-safe and mitigation strategies will differ per FPGA type. In this session several design approaches for safe systems will be presented. It will also explore the benefits and limitations of several mitigation techniques. The intention of the presentation is to provide information regarding FPGA types, their susceptibilities, and proven fail-safe strategies; so that users can select appropriate mitigation and perform the required trade for system insertion. The presentation will describe three types of FPGA devices and their susceptibilities in radiation environments.

hardware description language (HDL)↗

Verification of Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) Insertion for Reliable and Trusted Systems

We propose a method for TMR insertion verification that satisfies the process for reliable and trusted systems. If a system is expected to be protected using TMR, improper insertion can jeopardize the reliability and security of the system. Due to the complexity of the verification process, there are currently no available techniques that can provide complete and reliable confirmation of TMR insertion. This manuscript addresses the challenge of confirming that TMR has been inserted without corruption of functionality and with correct application of the expected TMR topology. The proposed verification method combines the usage of existing formal analysis tools with a novel search-detect-and-verify tool. Field programmable gate array (FPGA),Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR),Verification, Trust, Reliability,

Trust↗

New Developments in FPGA Devices: SEUs and Fail-Safe Strategies from the NASA Goddard Perspective

It has been shown that, when exposed to radiation environments, each Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device has unique error signatures. Subsequently, fail-safe and mitigation strategies will differ per FPGA type. In this session several design approaches for safe systems will be presented. It will also explore the benefits and limitations of several mitigation techniques. The intention of the presentation is to provide information regarding FPGA types, their susceptibilities, and proven fail-safe strategies; so that users can select appropriate mitigation and perform the required trade for system insertion. The presentation will describe three types of FPGA devices and their susceptibilities in radiation environments.

Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)↗