On the test of a COTS-based system for space applications

Abstract

The MaMMoTH-Up project aims at designing and manufacturing a COTS-based system to be used on the Ariane5 launcher. One of the key challenges in the project lies in guaranteeing the same level of reliability of previous systems, which were based on space qualified components. To achieve this goal, new solutions for the test of the system hardware were developed, able to guarantee a high level of fault coverage while matching several constraints in terms of system accessibility and hardware complexity. An approach based on Software-based Self-test is described to test the OR1200 processor adopted in the system, combined with new and effective techniques for identifying the on-line functionally untestable faults. Results including a comparison between a functional and a structural test approach are also reported.