SpaceART SpaceWire Sniffer for Link Monitoring: A Complete Communication Analysis in a Time-Constrained Test Scenario

Abstract

The on-board communication standard adopted in current generation space missions of the European Space Agency, and many other agencies as well, is SpaceWire (SpW). In a SpW network, data are exchanged as well-formed packets, whose structure offers low packet overhead and allows developers to tailor their implementation for SpW applications. The development of SpW-compliant devices requires a specific set of test instruments, namely Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE), to verify the correct functionality of SpW units under test. An example of a SpW EGSE is the SpaceART EGSE Emulator, an EGSE for generation and processing of SpW packets for a time-constrained use-case scenario. This EGSE has been developed to address a mission-related SpW communication between a device and an Instrument Control Unit (ICU). It has allowed the generation and processing of specific SpW packets, which cannot be provided by the mostly used general-purpose SpW EGSEs. In this scope, the SpaceART SpW Sniffer, a SpW link analyser for unobtrusive monitoring of SpW link, has been employed to run a comprehensive set of tests and provide further information on the considered scenario. The SpaceART EGSE Emulator-ICU communication has been thoroughly tested through the SpaceART SpW Sniffer, unobtrusively analysing the exchanged data and allowing to assess the compliance with the defined time constraints from an external point of view. The use of the Sniffer has been crucial for testing the on-board communication, providing important support for the success of the mission employing the tested ICU.