Space transportation vehicles require embedded real-time systems for guidance navigation and control (GNC) as well as for telemetry and telecommand, and video streaming. TTTech Aerospace’s new, integrated deterministic Ethernet switch solution TTESwitch MYTHOS allows to integrate GNC, telemetry data, and video streaming on a single network without any interference to the safety-critical GNC data. It further allows to manage the complete avionics via an Ethernet connection from the ground and therefore improves the operations of the spacecraft. The product was designed in collaboration with Réaltra Space Systems Engineering to reduce space, weight, and power. The unit is a box-level offering which is easy to integrate into spacecraft avionics, requiring only power (22-38V) and Ethernet connections via standard connectors.
The TTESwitch MYTHOS is a central switching unit that connects various onboard systems. It forms the core of highly reliable deterministic data networks using TTEthernet® connecting avionics subsystems in space transportation vehicles.
TTEthernet networks support three standardized traffic classes – from standard Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) to rate-constrained (ARINC 664 part 7) and Time-Triggered Ethernet traffic (SAE AS6802). This enables the use of synchronized and non-synchronized functions in distributed systems via the same physical Ethernet network, where safety-critical hard real-time functions obtain reserved bandwidth and full determinism (including bounded jitter below 1μs).
The TTESwitch MYTHOS is a standalone device built into a compact, ruggedized box that is available as a qualified off-the-shelf product. The product is available in two variants with either 12 or 20 Ethernet ports to provide optimized solutions in terms of size and weight for different types of space applications. Ivan Masar, Senior Product Manager Space at TTTech Aerospace, explains:
“This integrated switch product allows our customers to simplify their avionics used in safety-critical applications of spacecrafts. The TTESwitch MYTHOS is ready-to-use, with high-speed standard Ethernet and strictly deterministic Time-Triggered Ethernet. The switch is very robust but lightweight and uses our rad-hard, industry-proven TTESwitch Controller HiRel. This makes it ideal for high-reliability applications on space transportation vehicles, especially launchers.”
In addition, to integrate sub-systems like computers into reliable on-board networks, TTTech Aerospace offers the matching, flight-proven TTEEnd System Controller HiRel from its product portfolio for the space applications mentioned above. The TTEEnd System Controller is used to connect spacecraft electronics, like sensors, actuators or onboard computers to an Ethernet or TTEthernet network. TTTech Aerospace also provides software and scheduling tools to support our customers’ development and qualification process.
The TTESwitch MYTHOS was developed jointly with Réaltra Space System Engineering within the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) funded by the European Space Agency ESA. The suitability of the design for launcher avionics networks has already been confirmed through the selection of the switch by a commercial European launcher provider and the planned use in the upgraded Réaltra video telemetry system.
Find out more:
- Product page: TTESwitch MYTHOS
- TTEthernet tools portfolio: TTETools | TTEVerify
- Find out more about our offering for the launch vehicle market
