Asynchronous Parallel Reactive System for Intelligent Small Satellite on-Board Computing Systems

This chapter describes the development of satellite control algorithms implemented into FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) hardware logic, which is gathering a great interest in applying for central computing systems of small satellites with high computational demands. In order to maximize the parallel processing capability of the FPGA, the satellite control algorithms are classified into subsystems and are implemented as a parallel running multi-agent system. The developed asynchronous parallel reactive system is capable of real-time processing and reasoning, which enables the implementation of the multi-agent system in FPGAs. This system introduces a reactive subsumption system, which has been ever proven its potential for autonomous systems, and is exemplary applied for the small satellite Flying Laptop. This concept offers further possibilities to be extended as an on-board autonomous system based on a Belief-Desire-Intention architecture. The performance of the implemented control algorithm is evaluated and its potential for autonomous space systems is investigated.