An I/O Building Block for the IMA Space Reference Architecture

The IMA for Space project (IMA-SP), led by Astrium, defines a reference architecture for space on-board software based on the concept of Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA). This platform encompasses not only low-level software like operating systems and communication middleware, but also domain-specific services, such as FDIR, mode control or on-board software maintenance. Part of the platform is a generic I/O solution that provides services based on network interfaces and other devices. In compliance with the overall objectives of the platform, the I/O component should not only integrate device control into a partitioned environment, but shall also relieve applications from the burden of addressing I/O directly. Applications built for the IMA platform are in consequence reusable across different hardware platforms and different missions.