Abstract
The Advanced Onboard Signal Processor (AOSP) address the onboard processing requirements of future space systems. In this context, a unique multiprocessor architectural concept has evolved, envisioning a distributed array of loosely coupled programmable processors interconnected by a packet-based high-speed bus local area network. Sophisticated fault recovery and reconfiguration capabilities achieve the desired degrees of autonomy and system availability. Processing tasks are partitioned and mapped onto the resources of, the AOSP in the form of a generalized series-parallel pipeline, with processor interactions synchronized by data flow.
The AOSP architectural concept is extremely flexible. Without change to the fundamental operating system, AOSP can be configured to perform a wide range of processing applications. Moreover, the design is not restricted to any particular topology or number of processors.
Novel at its conception [1], [2], AOSP's major design features are becoming increasingly popular, and the literature on loosely coupled and data-flow-synchronized multiprocessors is expanding rapidly [3]–[8]. In this article we describe the architecture of the AOSP, its embedded survivable local area network (LAN), its operating system software, and its fault tolerance features; discuss the issues associated with partitioning and programming of applications; and, finally, summarize the program phases.
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Dechant, D.J. The Advanced Onboard Signal Processor (AOSP). J VLSI Sign Process Syst Sign Image Video Technol 2, 69–78 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00934997
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00934997