Multiprocessor architectures for space vehicles

The electronic and computational needs within a modern spacecraft are analyzed. The desirable characteristics of the sensory units and the sensory network are studied, for reliable engine performance, fault diagnosis, and to increase the overall intelligence of the network for constant dollars. Appropriate multiprocessor architectures are studied to work in conjunction with the sensory network for the real-time engine and vehicle guidance control in a modern spacecraft. The system is organized to be fault-tolerant and to store diagnostic messages to aid repair. Both single and multiple bus architectures are studied. Protocols are described to run various routines on different processor stages under a prioritized system