Functional Component Approach to Telemetry Data Capture Systems

Abstract

To support the telemetry data rates and meet the needs of telemetry data users in the next decade, telemetry data capture systems will have to be radically different from today's systems. At Goddard Space Flight Center, the Mission Operations and Data Systems Directorate is developing the capability to build user specific data capture systems from a library of high performance hardware and software elements that satisfy standard data capture processing requirements. One or more telemetry functions are encapsulated in a single standard open bus system (e.g. VME, Multibus II, NuBus etc.) with supporting software to form a user data capture system. Each subsystem module (card or board) includes a local microprocessor supplying on board intelligence and programmability for changing requirements. Many of these subsystem designs include custom very large scale integration (VLSI) components to increase speed while minimizing cost and size. A standard hardware and software interface to each card subsystem is employed to simplify system integration in the open system environment.