| This thesis outlines the many trade-offs associated with the design of cost-effective embedded system processing boards for use in Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites. Typical requirements for small satellites, component selection criteria and system design considerations due to radiation effects are presented. To add relevance to these conclusions, two diverse embedded system board design case studies are presented. In both cases the author was a primary designer. The first case study describes the design of the embedded-system microprocessor boards used in the SEDSAT-1 project, which was developed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The second case study is based upon the subsequent commercial development of space processor boards for Space Electronics Corporation. The processor boards designed for the SEDSAT-1 were comparable in performance to the latest industry standard processor boards, but at one twenty fifth the cost. The processor boards designed at Space Electronics had substantial performance increases compared to similar processor boards produced by other companies, but at one half the cost. |
