Flight Software Development Kit

The Bright Ascension Flight Software Development Kit (FSDK) is a unique, innovative development environment which permits the creation of mission-specific spacecraft flight software using configurable, off-the-shelf software components.

The FSDK allows users to build flight software out of pre-existing and pre-validated components to create a flight software package which is tailored to the exact requirements of each unique mission.

The GenerationOne FSDK comprises three major parts:

an extensive library of validated components, many with flight heritage;
a lightweight framework which promotes portability and modularity;
and tooling to support component development, software integration and test.

Integrated into a rapid and adaptable workflow, our FSDK helps realise more value from missions, from single nano-satellites to large constellations.

Datasheet download

For a summary of the GenerationOne FSDK you can download our product datasheet.

rapidity

The component library which forms part of the FSDK provides you with most flight software functionality you need off-the-shelf. This allows you to focus on producing or procuring code to cover the unique parts of your mission. Whatever development you do, cross-platform support means most development and testing can be done on desktop PCs without access to flight hardware or engineering models.

On the ground side, we include a graphical test application software which will provide telemetry monitoring and telecommand to support your development and AIVT activities.

flexibility

The component-based architecture we’ve used for GenerationOne means that software can be assembled from a library of existing, validated code and supplemented with new components to introduce new capabilities.

This flexibility extends into orbit, with a high level of reconfigurability and automation to cope with evolving mission needs and provide plenty of troubleshooting options.

portability

The GenerationOne flight framework was designed with portability in mind. An abstraction layer and flexible build system make it straightforward to add support for new onboard computers, operating systems and architectures.

robustness

Our heavily tested, proven code is developed to strict coding standards based on industry norms for mission-critical software. Our scheduling system facilitates the development of robust, verifiable task schedules allowing you to be sure your flight software will meet strict real-time requirements.

ease-of-use

We recognise the importance of good documentation which is why you will find comprehensive API reference documentation, a full user manual and thoroughly documented source code.

interoperability

Wherever possible we adopt recognised and mature international standards to promote interoperability and portability. GenerationOne uses CCSDS standards for communications and for I/O handling on board giving you the most options for the operation of your spacecraft and adaptation of existing software to the GenerationOne framework.

component library

The GenerationOne FSDK component library includes a wide range of components covering all mission needs. The FSDK component library includes the following:

Subsystem components for many commercial off-the-shelf products such as electronic power systems, attitude control systems and radios
Data handling components for efficiently gathering, pooling, logging and reporting telemetry parameters from the complete system
Monitoring components which perform checks on parameters to validate correct system operations
Communications components which permit monitoring, control and reporting to and from ground or other systems using a variety of standard protocols
Automation components to permit the automation of onboard activities such as responding to events and scheduling onboard operations based on relative time, absolute time or spacecraft orbit
Mission components which manage the spacecraft mode and separation sequence

platform and subsystem support

The GenerationOne FSDK supports a wide, and growing, range of hardware and software platforms. Through our unique, efficient approach to platform abstraction, we can also support a range of operating systems from vanilla Linux to hard real-time environments such as RTEMS. Library components allow access to system peripherals and subsystems in a regular way, permitting a high degree of modularity. Where the underlying platform provides fully featured drivers, such as in a Linux environment, driver components are simply responsible for making these accessible to the rest of the system. In other environments, especially when running on bare metal, drivers are written as components making them fully portable.

onboard computers

Onboard computer (OBC) platforms currently supported by the GenerationOne FSDK include:

ÅAC Microtec Sirius OBC
Clyde Space OBC
GomSpace Nanomind A712D
Pumpkin BeagleBone Black OBC
Texas Instruments MSP430-based platforms
Vorago VA10820 Radiation Hard OBC
Xiphos Q7 (Xilinx Zynq)
Many other Linux-based OBCs including Raspberry Pi

operating systems

The novel approach to platform abstraction permits support for operating systems to be treated separately from the underlying computer platform. Operating systems and environments currently supported by the GenerationOne FSDK include:

Linux
FreeRTOS
RTEMS
Bare metal environment using the built-in cooperative multi-tasking capabilities of the framework

off-the-shelf subsystems

The range of subsystems supported by the GenerationOne FSDK is extensive, and growing all the time. We are always interested to support additional subsystems, particularly if they are widely used, so contact us if your chosen subsystem is not listed here. Our current support includes:

ÅAC Microtec Sirius TCM
ArduCAM Mini 5MP Plus
Astrodev radios including the Helium and Lithium
All Clyde Space subsystems
CPUT/F’SATI radios including UHF/VHF and S-band
GomSpace subsystems, including the Nanomind OBC
ISIS subsystems, including the UHF/VHF transceiver
Maryland Aerospace subsystems, including the MAI-400
NearSpace Launch Eyestar Duplex Modem
Novatel OEM6 GPS
Orbitonics C3D Imager
Pumpkin subsystems, including power systems
QB50/CubeSpace ADCS
QinetiQ Q20 HD GPS
A range of miniaturised sensors and ADCs
Modems compatible with the ITU-T Rec. V.250 standard

communications protocols

The unique, modular approach to communications in GenerationOne means that the FSDK can permit support for a wide range of communications protocols. The current library has support for a number of standard protocols with many others currently in development.

ECSS Packet Utilisation Standard (PUS)
CCSDS Packet Protocol
CCSDS File Delivery Protocol
CCSDS Telemetry and Telecommand framing, synchronisation and coding
CCSDS TM Space Data Link Protocol
CCSDS TM Synchronization and Channel Coding
SHA-1 HMAC authentication
Generic KISS support

The following protocols are in development and will be available in the near future:

CubeSat Space Protocol (CSP)
CCSDS TC Data Link Protocols
Link-level encryption

licensing and support

GenerationOne FSDK licensing is on a per-spacecraft basis, which allows you to use as many concurrent instances of the software as you need during the development and operation of a single spacecraft. This covers flight hardware, engineering models, developer PCs and functional simulators. To give you the most flexibility we provide full source code for onboard software elements. Other licensing options, including volume discounts, are available.

Each licence includes a full year of support and maintenance including training to get you started, delivered either remotely or at one of our office sites. All additions and improvements we make to the GenerationOne FSDK will be made available to customers during this period. Extended support options, including additional training, are available.

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