Avionics
To support its experiments the Argotec Team has developed custom solutions for Command and Data Handling. The latest has been develop for the Thermal Exchange experiment (aka ARTE), which is a small form-factor, yet powerful redundant architecture.
Main features
Powerful. Based on ARM9 architecture, a well-known and very powerful processor.
Redundant architecture. The architecture features two redundant CPUs, working in parallel. An arbiter board monitors the health of each CPU, ensuring correct operations throughout system life.
High volume mass storage. The storage requirements of today’s architecture are more and more demanding. This architecture features SD card memories, one for each CPU, that can be used as mass memories.
Acquisition board. An additional external board is present (as option), in order to have multiple high-speed analog-to-digital acquisition channels.
Real-time. The CPU has the capabilities to provide a real-time environment.
Small form factor. The unit has been designed to fit into a small space, with the boards stacked.
Applications
This unit has been used in the ARTE experiment, in conjuction with the ARTE PSU. The unit served controlling and managing instant power delivered to the heat pipes in the experiment, and for sensor monitoring and data processing/storage.
The unit has successfully operated in ISS environment, and it’s compliant with NASA EMC/EMI standards.
Thanks to its small form factor and its performances, the unit can be used in various scenarios even non-space once. Some examples are:
- ISS payloads
- Civil applications
- Failure-tolerant operations
Technical specifications
| Architecture | 2xARM9 redundant, up to 240 MHz |
| Power consumption | 5 W (@ 5V) |
| Analog-to-digital channels | 8×4 channels @ 12 bits, with 200 ksps each |
| Mass storage | 2 SD card, 32GB each |
| Dimensions (for two boards) | 160x84x21 mm |
Latest News
View AllRadio Deejay
Daniele Bossari interviewed David Avino on Radio Deejay Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Argotec presents Open SPACE
Today Argotec “lands” on Borsa Italiana for a day. Within a suggestive location, the company and its partners Audi, Reale Mutua and ELITE talked about the Argotec Sharing Space Economy and the commercial potential offered by the contamination between the space and businesses belonging to different fields. Press Release – Italian Version
Argotec at the Paris Space Week 2019
This week Paris speaks about space: Argotec can’t miss it! On 2 and 3 April we take part in the Paris Space Week 2019!During this unmissable event, we’ll show all the features of our Hawk-6 platform and all our activities and services in the small satellites field! Meet us at D73 stand! Here some pictures […]
LICIACUBE: NASA chooses an Argotec’s SmallSat!
For the first time in history an Italian SmallSat will monitor the kinetic impact of a satellite with an asteroid. LICIACube (Light Italian Cubesat for Imaging of Asteroids) is the name of the project coordinated by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for the development of a SmallSat built in the Argotec’ laboratories in Turin. This satellite […]
Argotec joins ELITE programme
Today Argotec officially joined ELITE, an international Borsa Italiana programme promoted by the London Stock Exchange Group in collaboration with Confindustria. ELITE aims at accelerating the growth of companies through an innovative support in organizational and managerial field. This nomination represents an important target for the space sector: Argotec is the first company of its kind […]
Argotec at “The 19th International Heat Pipe Conference” in Pisa
Today “The 19th International Heat Pipe Conference” is starting in Pisa! This year Argotec is a member of the organizing Commitee and the sponsor of the Space Challenge “Two-Phase Heat Transfer for Cubesats”. Are you curious about our research and development activities in the thermal sector? Meet us on 11-12-13-14 June at Argotec stand – […]
Argotec and Comau present: ATENA, the innovative system for testing nanosats
Made in Italy excellence again flies through the star! Argotec is proud to present ATENA (Advanced Testing Emulator for Nanosatellite Arm), the innovative robotic system for the testing of nanosatellites, developed in collaboration with Comau. This system, for which Argotec has registered a patent for the technological innovations, provides immediate verification and constant monitoring of […]
Panorama (12.05.2018)
Tanta tecnologia italiana nella corsa allo spazio On May the 12th David Avino, Argotec Managing Director, took part in “A spazzo nello spazio” a event organized by Focus during the Bergamo leg of Panorama d’Italia tour. He presented Argotec new project Fly on Space Rider with Argotec.
Argotec’s lesson at Bocconi University (04.05.2018)
On May the 4th we met curious and enthusiastic students at Bocconi University. During the Business History lesson David Avino, our Managing Director, described to a crowded classroom Argotec case history. It was an honour and a pleasure to discuss our company history and vision. Here some images about the event:
Discover “Fly on Space Rider with Argotec” at A&T 2018
Have you ever dreamt of launching your project to space? Now, you can! Meet us at A&T event 2018 and discover Fly on Space Rider with Argotec. See you on 18-19-20 April at Argotec stand – G44 – Oval Lingotto Torino.
Argotec wins the “Premio dei Premi” at Camera dei deputati (18.12.2017)
Today Argotec received the “Premio Imprese per Innovazione” organized by Confindustria and the prestigious “Premio dei Premi” organized by Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri. During the awards ceremony, David Avino, Argotec’s Managing Director, accepted the award at Camera dei deputati in the presence of the Camera dei deputati president, On. Laura Boldrini. Here some images […]
SPACE CHALLENGE: “Two-Phase Heat Transfer for Cubesats”
Argotec is a member of the Organizing Committee at the 19th International Heat Pipe Conference. In this context Argotec sponsors the Space Challenge: “Two-Phase Heat Transfer for Cubesats”. This Challenge seeks to foster the creation of new – or to advance existing – two phase heat transfer systems for application on board CubeSats or small satellites (maximum size […]
Nespoli uses ISSpresso to celebrate International Coffee Day (30.09.2017)
On September the 30th the Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli has enjoyed an authentic Italian espresso thanks to ISSpresso on board the International Space Station (ISS) to celebrate International Coffee Day. Here some pictures about the operations: Read the press release: Press Release – ISSpresso International Coffee Day_EN Press Release – ISSpresso International Coffee Day_IT
Nespoli successfully conducted ARTE experiment (14.09.2017)
On September the 14th the Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli successfully conducted the ARTE experiment onboard the ISS. Argotec engineers supported in real time all the operations from the company Mission Control Centre. Here some pictures about the operations: Read the press release: ARTE_Comunicato Stampa_Argotec_ASI
ARTE project wins the Award at ISS R&D Conference (20.07.2017)
We are so proud to announce that Argotec has been selected to receive the “2017 Innovation in Technology Development and Demonstration Award” for the ARTE project. On July 20th, our Managing Director David Avino accepted the award at the “ISS Research and Development Conference” in Washington DC organized by the American Astronautical Society. Argotec has been […]
Paolo Nespoli visits Argotec (15.02.2017)
Today Argotec was pleased to host the Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli at Turin headquarters. In a view of the VITA mission, Paolo Nespoli visited the company laboratories. He spoke with the team of engineers who designed and assemblied some of his mission experiments. During the visit Paolo Nespoli conducted a training session with Argotec instructors […]