A mission critical embedded system: A new type FPGA-based digital magnetometer system for space research

Abstract

The magnetometer, a sensor system which measures magnetic field intensity and how it varies over time, is commonly used in scientific research and industrial applications. Typically, it consists of a magnetic sensor, analog amplifier and filter circuits. It also contains digital circuits for data acquisition. In our study, we address an issue where there is a number of ground-based magnetometer systems installed in both polar regions and in outer space. Due to the limited accessibility to those regions, installation and maintenance of those systems require high cost and lead time. This study proposes a primary test model of a ground-based magnetometer system for space research using digital signal processing techniques based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) and minimal analog circuits. This FPGA-based design is accessible via an Ethernet based network. Network functions provide communications, data acquisition, system test, and remote system control. This approach includes remote control of system characteristics like frequency response, gain, sampling rate, and sampling resolution. This new design concept will result in timely and less expensive maintenance, ease of access/service, and greater reliability. In addition, this system remotely uses an embedded self-test method which can perform system integrity tests for each separate circuit component.