Download Low-Cost Telemetry Encoder Backplane Communication

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Abstract
Low-Cost Telemetry Encoder Backplane Communication
by
Timothy B. Campbell, Master of Science
Utah State University, 2006
Major Professor: Dr. Charles M. Swenson
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Low-Cost Telemetry Encoder (LCTE) was developed by the Space Dynamics
Laboratory under contract for the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract. LCTE
performs data handling and telemetry encoding for sounding rocket missions. Using a
variety of data inputs, LCTE collects, formats, and encodes data. LCTE serializes the
encoded data and outputs the serial data stream to a transmitter on the rocket. A ground
station is then able to receive and process the collected data.
Thus far the LCTE design has undergone three phases. During phase one the original
LCTE system was developed. The system included a power board, a telemetry board, and
stackable aluminum enclosures for the boards. The telemetry board featured 32 analog
inputs, 32 digital inputs, and one asynchronous serial input. The system was programmed
to run a fixed telemetry matrix which read data from all these inputs. The phase two design
provided a PC-based Graphical User Interface which allowed users to easily reconfigure
the telemetry matrix as well as define the functions of the 32 digital lines. Finally, phase
three extended the LCTE design to include communication via the backplane connector.
This allowed LCTE to communicate directly with science or other boards included in the
hardware stack.