Patent ID: 6188874
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
A system for controlling and monitoring a spacecraft, comprising:a central computer;a plurality of nodes in the spacecraft grouped in a cluster of nodes based on a close physical proximity of nodes in said cluster;a plurality of said clusters of said plurality of nodes;a branch module respectively located in close physical proximity to each cluster;each of said branch modules including a plurality of digital input terminals and a plurality of analog input terminals coupled to one or more nodes of said plurality of nodes, a plurality of digital output terminals coupled to one or more nodes of said plurality of nodes, and a serial digital output terminal coupled to said central computer via a multi-drop capable, low cost, lightweight serial communications channel;wherein each of said branch modules includes at least two redundant serial digital output terminals coupled to said central computer by at least two redundant multidrop capable, low cost, lightweight serial communications channels.