FPGA Remote Reconfiguration Technology for Space Applications in Embedded Systems
Jinghao Zuo, Jing He, Yonghua Ma, Xiang Chang, Suzhi Cao · 2024
With the rapid development of aerospace technology, both the operational lifespan and the complexity of functions of space vehicles have significantly increased, leading to an urgent need for the on-orbit reconfiguration and upgrading of onboard logic modules. In response to this requirement, this study has designed and implemented a high-reliability and high-bandwidth FC-AE-1553 network solution. This solution utilizes Xilinx’s QuickBoot technology, aimed at achieving the remote reconfiguration of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in space application environments. A distinct advantage of this method is that remote sites do not need to rely on any specialized hardware or software tools, nor do they require the assistance of an additional microprocessor, to complete the update and reconfiguration of FPGA in space network terminal devices. This method has been successfully implemented, rigorously tested, and validated on an FPGA platform and successfully applied in space vehicles. Experimental results indicate that the method proposed in this study can effectively achieve the remote reconfiguration of FPGAs, demonstrating its stability and reliability in remote reconstruction functions, and providing a solid technical foundation for the remote on-orbit reconfiguration of FPGAs in space applications.