Diwan, Maitrik Methodology for Analyzing Complex Algorithms for Small Satellites. (under the Direction of Professor Willam W. Edmonson). Methodology for Analyzing Complex Algorithms for Small Satellites

DIWAN, MAITRIK Methodology for Analyzing Complex Algorithms for Small Satellites. (Under the direction of Professor Willam W. Edmonson). From the view point of an electrical engineer, one of the main challenges in the field of space science is the mapping of complex control algorithms onto appropriate hardware architectures. There is a wide knowledge gap between the team which designs these algorithms and the team which implements the algorithms. There is a variety of hardware architectures available commercially onto which the algorithms can be mapped. There also exist different design tools which can be used to perform the implementation of these complex algorithms on appropriate hardware architectures. With the availability of a large suite of architectures and design tools, the design engineer often gets puzzled in selecting the correct architecture and tools to perform the implementation of the algorithm in an optimal manner. This thesis presents a methodology for analyzing complex algorithms for small satellite applications. The proposed methodology provides a step by step process of analyzing an algorithm for converting its Platform Independent Model (PIM) into a Platform Specific Model (PSM). It assumes that the algorithm has been designed in Simulink from Mathworks, which is the design tool of choice for aerospace system engineers engineers. After this, the methodology descibes the detailed process of performing complexity analysis of the algorithm, which leads to identification of the accelerator components. The next step explains the process of software and hardware implementation of the accelerator components. After this, the software and hardware implementations are compared on the basis of Speed of Execution, Power Dissipation and Development Time. The results are analyzed to make a decision regarding the implementation of the algorithm. The proposed methodology is validated by applying it to the Atttitude Determination and Control algorithm designed for attitude control of small satellites. Methodology for Analyzing Complex Algorithms for Small Satellites