The Compact Reconfigurable Avionics aims at providing a flexible solution for small spacecraft (typically 150 - 500 kg) allowing to reduce the size of their Avionics (Data Handling Core and smart AOCS elements) while fulfilling high performance and defined reliability requirements. The objective of this activity is to analyse the best possible avionics architecture able to implement AOCS GNC functional chains with reliable sensors and actuators in a compact and reconfigurable way.

In 2009, the Nanosat study recommended a high degree of integration between data handling, AOCS and power distribution. Meanwhile, industry has come with innovate solutions where AOCS sensors are miniaturised and can be progressively introduced fully or partially in the central processor, typically coarse gyros, GNSS receivers or the processing part of the Star Trackers, leaving only optical heads or GNSS antennas to be accommodated as external units. The main tasks of this activity shall cover: a) the identification of candidate European sensors, off-the-shelf or to be developed, which have the potential to be miniaturised and integrated (star tracker, sun sensor, gyro, accelerometer, optical navigation sensor, magnetic torquers); b) the selection of one candidate AOCS configuration, able to serve a large number of missions in LEO, MEO and GEO (Earth Observation, Telecom, Navigation) and one candidate GNC configuration able to serve a large number of in-orbit servicing (including Clean Space) and Exploration missions; c) the review of electrical and functional interfaces between these units and an innovative Reconfigurable Data Handling Core (powerful microprocessor and one or several high-end reprogrammable FPGAs) and the optimised partitioning of hardware / software elements of the AOCS GNC functional chains, including redundancy and failure management; d) the high level definition of the various software algorithms, allowing as much as possible on-ground adaptation and in-flight reconfiguration; e) the prototyping of critical hardware and software elements, and adequate testing demonstrating the feasibility of HW miniaturization, integration and reconfigurability. Eventually these elements will be part of the Compact Reconfigurable Avionics test bench installed in ESTEC Avionics Lab.