Quality Assessment of the new European Space FPGA Software Tools

The objective of this activity is to define and to apply a methodology to assess, from a Quality perspective, these new SW Tools to ensure that they are fit for purpose and can evolve for future applications with sufficient Quality control.

FPGAs are increasingly being used to implement complex and critical functions on-board the Satellite at both Platform and Payload level. The new European Space FPGA software tool chain is intended to be used in the end to end FPGA Development Lifecycle to ensure that the devices are correctly programmed, starting from the functional specification of the device behaviour through to the final Verification and Validation in the target environment. It is clear that these new Software Tools to be used in this process are fundamental to achieving the quality objectives of the programmed devices in flight. There are numerous instances of FPGAs used on board ESA satellites for a diverse range of applications, including: Mil1553B and SpaceWire interfaces, TMTC Decoders and LEON CPUs or other micro-controllers processors to name a few. The qualification of these programmed devices for use in space is based on an exhaustive Verification and Validation process that attempts to exercise a large set of Test Vectors to ensure that the device functionality, error handling and performance are correct. This end to end process to program and validate the custom devices often relies on proprietary tools that are not subject to a specific qualification exercise. This study is to encompass the following activities: - To define the approach and methodology to assess the SW Quality of the new European Space FPGA end-to-end Tool Chain. This shall define how the tools have been developed and maintained; how configuration control is applied; the validation of the tools with respect to the programmed hardware and its successful operation. - To Apply the methodology and approach from Phase1 within the new European Space FPGA end to end Software Tool Chain. This will ensure that the tools are fit for their purpose and can evolve for future releases maintaining the Quality level. An important part of this phase will involve a Proof of Concept Demonstration based on the tool user manuals and Bench Marks obtained from test vehicles and ESA IP Cores. This will be based on specific Use Cases provided by ESA, as elements of an ESA portfolio of IP Cores.