Distributed Microprocessing of PCM Telemetry Provides Unlimited Real Time Analysts Displays

Abstract

Invariably, during the launch of large scale spacecraft, there is a need to provide large numbers of analysts with real time telemetry displays. This is especially true of "one-of-a-kind" or "first-of-a-series" spacecraft. These analysts have a wide range of needs and are specialists in many diverse disciplines. The problem is how to divide up a high speed telemetry stream in such a way that each analyst has access to the measurements of interest. Many large scale systems have been built to do this, but are often limited as to the number of displays that can be supported, and are easily swamped by data requests. This paper presents a microcomputer architecture which supports an unlimited number of individual displays and provides each analyst with access to all measurements from which data of interest may be chosen at will, with no affect on system throughput. In addition, the system is inexpensive, very flexible, and relatively easy to implement.