A Lightweight Method for Detecting and Correcting Errors in Low-Frequency Measurements for In-Orbit Demonstrators.

Area of Science:

• Space Science and Engineering
• Aerospace Technology
• Radiation Effects on Electronics

Background:

• In-orbit experiments are crucial for validating new technologies in space.
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites face radiation hazards causing memory bit-flips.
• Magnetic sensing techniques require robust data integrity in space environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in-flight performance of magnetic sensing techniques.
• To analyze memory data redundancy and recovery options for space missions.
• To introduce and validate a new technique for ensuring data integrity against radiation effects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized in-orbit demonstrators (MELISA) in LEO.
• Analyzed memory data redundancy using auxiliary flash memory and duplicated data structures.
• Proposed and implemented the Cross-Checking and Mirroring (CCM) technique.
• Evaluated four alternative algorithms based on merit indicators.

Main Results:

• The proposed CCM technique and alternative algorithms demonstrated similar, effective performance.
• The methods are robust against multiple bit-flips in flash memory.
• The computational overhead introduced by CCM is negligible, even for 8-bit microcontrollers.

Conclusions:

• The CCM technique provides a lightweight and effective solution for data integrity in radiation-heavy space environments.
• In-orbit validation of magnetic sensing systems is feasible and essential.
• The developed methods enhance the reliability of electronic systems on LEO satellites.