The Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, is a hub of innovation and technological advancement in the field of space exploration. One of the latest developments to come out of this center is the Descent and Landing Computer (DLC), a high-performance computing platform designed to facilitate safe and autonomous spacecraft landings for both robotic and human exploration missions.
At the heart of the DLC is a unique datapath architecture that sets it apart from traditional computing platforms. This architecture isolates microprocessors from input and output interruptions, allowing for maximum computational speed and efficiency. This is crucial for the DLC to process landing-specific sensor data in real-time and relay this information to the primary flight computer, enabling the spacecraft to navigate and avoid environmental hazards such as craters and boulders during descent.
The DLC platform consists of three key components: a NASA-designed field programmable gate array (FPGA) board, a NASA-designed multiprocessor on-a-chip (MPSoC) board, and a proprietary datapath that connects these boards to various sensors and inputs. The sensors, including the inertial measurement unit (IMU), camera, Navigation Doppler LiDAR (NDL), and Hazard Detection LiDAR (HDL), are connected to the FPGA board. The datapath on this board processes the sensor data and formats it for input to the MPSoC board, where it is further processed and analyzed.
This sensor datapath architecture enables real-time high-bandwidth data collection and processing, allowing the DLC to perform its critical functions during spacecraft landings. The technology developed at the Johnson Space Center has the potential for applications beyond space exploration, including aerospace and defense, transportation, medical, research, and automation/control markets.
NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology, offering opportunities for collaboration and further development. Interested parties can contact NASA’s Licensing Concierge to initiate licensing discussions and explore the possibilities of integrating this innovative technology into their own projects.
Overall, the Descent and Landing Computer developed at the Johnson Space Center represents a significant advancement in the field of space exploration technology. With its high-performance computing platform and advanced sensor datapath architecture, the DLC is poised to revolutionize autonomous spacecraft landings and pave the way for safe and successful missions to other regions of the solar system.