Integrating a Real Time Operating-System Layer to a Memory-Constrained Electrical Power System for a Nanosatellite
摘要
In the realm of space applications, software reliability plays a vital role in defining the success or failure of a mission. For Nanosatellite missions, software is typically developed on demand, tailored to meet the specific needs and constraints of the system. These constraints often necessitate a minimalistic approach to software design to ensure safety and secure operation. However, the software must also be sufficiently complex to achieve all mission objectives. While the use of general purpose operating systems like Linux has been increasing in the past years, commercial off-the-shelf real-time operating systems (RTOS) are still preferred due to their deterministic nature and the ease of development and debugging. This paper explores the integration of a FreeRTOS layer into an MSP430-based Electrical Power System for a nanosatellite. The integration involves adding telemetry collection and housekeeping tasks to enhance subsystem integration and responsiveness with other subsystems without putting pressure in the system resources.