Spacecraft equipment program updating system and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a spacecraft equipment program updating system and method. Comprising a software upgrading tool and spacecraft equipment to be upgraded; one end of the software upgrading tool is used for being connected with a mobile storage device, the other end of the software upgrading tool is used for being connected with the spacecraft device, and program data to be updated are stored in the mobile storage device; and when the program of the spacecraft equipment needs to be updated, connecting the mobile storage equipment to the software upgrading tool by an on-orbit astronaut, and connecting the software upgrading tool with the spacecraft equipment, so as to update the program data to be updated to the spacecraft equipment based on a preset strategy. According to the application, astronauts can conveniently update the spacecraft equipment program, and the updating efficiency is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aerospace, and in particular to a system and method for updating a spacecraft equipment program. Background Art

[0002] Due to the diversity of the space station's on-orbit work, the scalability and uncertainty of its tasks, the space station inevitably needs to perform on-orbit updates and upgrades of its equipment software. The traditional method of upgrading on-orbit spacecraft software is mainly to use the measurement and control link to uplink program data to the on-orbit spacecraft in the form of remote control injection. Taking the upgrade of the space station GNC controller software as an example, if the traditional method of ground remote control injection is used for software upgrade, more than 1,300 data injection packages need to be uplinked, and the cooperation of various uplink and downlink links is required. The entire software upgrade process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and complicated to operate.

[0003] As for manned spacecraft such as space stations and manned spacecraft, if the astronauts can take the initiative to upgrade the spacecraft equipment software, it can significantly improve efficiency and reduce space-ground interaction and ground operations.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a system and method for updating spacecraft equipment programs to facilitate astronauts to update spacecraft equipment programs in orbit. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a system and method for updating a spacecraft device program, which facilitates astronauts to update the spacecraft device program with high updating efficiency. The technical solution is as follows:

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a spacecraft equipment program update system, a software upgrade tool, and a spacecraft equipment to be upgraded;

[0007] One end of the software upgrade tool is used to connect to a mobile storage device, and the other end is used to connect to the spacecraft device, and the mobile storage device stores program data to be updated;

[0008] When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the on-orbit astronaut connects the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool, and connects the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device to update the program data to be updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy.

[0009] In a possible design, the software upgrade tool includes a mobile storage interface, and the mobile storage device is connected to the software upgrade tool via the mobile storage interface.

[0010] In a possible design, the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft device are respectively provided with a plurality of one-to-one corresponding communication interfaces, and each of the communication interfaces is respectively used for information exchange between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft device.

[0011] In one possible design, the communication interface includes at least a data communication interface, a handshake signal interface, and a status signal interface;

[0012] The data communication interface is used for data transmission between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft equipment;

[0013] The handshake signal interface is used to confirm the connection status between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft equipment;

[0014] The status signal interface is used to send the working status of the spacecraft device to the software upgrade tool in the form of a status signal. The working status of the spacecraft device includes updating and updating completed, and the status signal includes an updating signal and an updating completed signal.

[0015] In one possible design, when the software upgrade tool is connected to the spacecraft device and the software upgrade tool is powered on, the handshake signal is low; otherwise, the handshake signal is high; when the handshake signal is low, the spacecraft device program is updated, and when the handshake signal is high, the spacecraft device program is not updated.

[0016] In a possible design, the software upgrade tool includes a human-machine interface, and the human-machine interface is used to control the on and off of the software upgrade tool and the display of handshake signals and status signals.

[0017] In one possible design, the program storage architecture of the spacecraft device includes at least: a BootLoader block, a data memory RAM block, and a code memory EEPROM block;

[0018] When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the old program in the EEPROM area is moved to the SRAM area based on the BootLoader block, thereby obtaining an idle EEPROM area and an SRAM area storing the old program; the CPU in the spacecraft device maintains the on-orbit operation of the spacecraft by calling the old program in the SRAM area, and updates the program data to be updated to the idle EEPROM area, thereby completing the update of the spacecraft device program.

[0019] In a possible design, updating the program data to be updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy includes:

[0020] Determining whether the software upgrade tool is started;

[0021] If not started, the program of the equipment of the said spacecraft will not be updated;

[0022] If enabled, it is executed for each run cycle:

[0023] S1, determining whether the spacecraft equipment program in the current operation cycle has been updated; if updated, executing S2; if not updated, executing S3;

[0024] S2, sending an update completion signal to the software upgrade tool and stopping the update;

[0025] S3, requesting the software upgrade tool to retrieve the program data of the set number of bytes in a set order; and writing the retrieved program data into the corresponding address of the EEPROM area in the order of address from small to large, and returning to execute S1;

[0026] S1 to S3 are executed cyclically until all program data to be updated are stored in the EEPROM area.

[0027] In one possible design, the set number of bytes is determined based on the size of the storage address of the EEPROM area.

[0028] On the other hand, the present invention provides a method for updating a spacecraft device program, which is applied to the updating system provided in the above embodiment, and the method includes:

[0029] Connecting one end of the software upgrade tool to a mobile storage device and the other end to a spacecraft device, wherein the mobile storage device stores program data to be updated;

[0030] When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, in response to the on-orbit astronaut connecting the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool and connecting the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device, the program data to be updated is updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy.

[0031] The embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for updating a spacecraft device program. When a spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the ground control system will upload the program to be updated to the on-orbit astronaut. After receiving the program data, the on-orbit astronaut will store it in a mobile storage device and connect it to a software upgrade tool. By connecting the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device, the program data can be transmitted to the spacecraft device to implement the updating of the spacecraft device program. The present application facilitates astronauts to update the spacecraft device program, and the updating efficiency is high. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0033] Figure 1 It is a flow chart of a spacecraft equipment program update system provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 The present invention is a flowchart of updating a spacecraft equipment program provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] The specific implementation of the above concept is described below.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 1 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a system for updating a spacecraft device program, including a software upgrade tool and a spacecraft device to be upgraded;

[0038] One end of the software upgrade tool is used to connect to a mobile storage device, and the other end is used to connect to a spacecraft device. The mobile storage device stores program data to be updated.

[0039] When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the astronauts on orbit connect the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool, and connect the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device to update the program data to be updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy.

[0040] In this embodiment, when the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the ground control system will upload the program to be updated to the on-orbit astronauts. After receiving the program data, the on-orbit astronauts will store it in a mobile storage device and connect it to the software upgrade tool. By connecting the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device, the program data can be transmitted to the spacecraft device to achieve the update of the spacecraft device program. This application makes it easy for astronauts to update the spacecraft device program, and the update efficiency is high.

[0041] It should be noted that the mobile storage device can be a standard storage medium such as a USB flash drive, a CD, or an SD card. The ground control system can be a space-to-earth mail system, etc. This application does not specifically limit the mobile storage device and the communication method. In addition, the program data to be updated can be uploaded to the astronauts on orbit through the ground control system, or can be carried by the astronauts to the spacecraft on orbit.

[0042] In some implementations, the software upgrade tool includes a mobile storage interface, and the mobile storage device is connected to the software upgrade tool via the mobile storage interface.

[0043] In some implementations, a plurality of one-to-one corresponding communication interfaces are respectively provided on the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft device, and each communication interface is used for information exchange between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft device.

[0044] In some embodiments, the communication interface includes at least a data communication interface, a handshake signal interface, and a status signal interface;

[0045] The data communication interface is used for data transmission between software upgrade tools and spacecraft equipment;

[0046] The handshake signal interface is used to confirm the connection status between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft equipment;

[0047] The status signal interface is used to send the working status of the spacecraft equipment to the software upgrade tool in the form of a status signal. The working status of the spacecraft equipment includes updating and updating completed, and the status signal includes updating signal and updating completed signal.

[0048] In some embodiments, when the software upgrade tool is connected to the spacecraft device and the software upgrade tool is powered on, the handshake signal is low; otherwise, the handshake signal is high; when the handshake signal is low, the spacecraft device program is updated, and when the handshake signal is high, the spacecraft device program is not updated.

[0049] In order to intuitively represent the properties of each communication interface, the following interface parameters are summarized in Table 1:

[0050] Table 1 Parameters of each communication interface

[0051]

[0052] In some implementations, the software upgrade tool includes a human-machine interface, and the human-machine interface is used to control the on and off of the software upgrade tool and the display of the handshake signal and the status signal.

[0053] In this embodiment, the human-machine interface is used for human-machine interaction with astronauts. For example, the human-machine interface includes a switch and an indicator light, and the indicator light includes a handshake signal light and a status signal light. When the software upgrade tool needs to be started, it is only necessary to turn on the corresponding switch, otherwise, the corresponding switch is turned off. In addition, when the spacecraft device sends an updating signal to the software upgrade tool, the update signal light is on; when the spacecraft device sends an update completion signal to the software upgrade tool, the update completion signal light is on. In this way, it is convenient for astronauts to perform correct operations.

[0054] It should also be noted that the software upgrade tool also includes a processor system for controlling the operation of the entire software upgrade tool.

[0055] In some embodiments, the program storage architecture of the spacecraft device includes at least: a BootLoader block, a data memory RAM block, and a code memory EEPROM block;

[0056] When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the old program in the EEPROM area is moved to the SRAM area based on the BootLoader block, thereby obtaining an idle EEPROM area and an SRAM area storing the old program. The CPU in the spacecraft device maintains the on-orbit operation of the spacecraft by calling the old program in the SRAM area, and updates the program data to be updated to the idle EEPROM area, thereby completing the update of the spacecraft device program.

[0057] In this embodiment, by setting the above-mentioned functional modules, the normal operation of the on-orbit spacecraft can be updated without affecting the program in the EEPROM area, that is, the spacecraft equipment can work normally while upgrading the program. When the program is updated, the spacecraft equipment can be restarted.

[0058] In some implementations, updating the program data to be updated to the spacecraft equipment based on a preset strategy includes:

[0059] Determine whether the software upgrade tool is started;

[0060] If it is not started, the spacecraft equipment program will not be updated;

[0061] If enabled, it is executed for each run cycle:

[0062] S1, determine whether the spacecraft equipment program has been updated in the current operation cycle; if updated, execute S2; if not updated, execute S3;

[0063] S2, sending an update completion signal to the software upgrade tool and stopping the update;

[0064] S3, requesting the software upgrade tool to retrieve the program data of the set number of bytes in the set order; and writing the retrieved program data into the corresponding address of the EEPROM area in the order of address from small to large, and returning to execute S1;

[0065] S1 to S3 are executed repeatedly until all program data to be updated are stored in the EEPROM area.

[0066] In this implementation, the number of bytes is set based on the size of the storage address of the EEPROM area. For example, if the size of the EEPROM area is 1M and the number of bytes is set to 256 bytes, the spacecraft device requests the software upgrade tool to send 256 bytes to the spacecraft device in each operation cycle, and each received byte is written into the corresponding address of the EEPROM area in the order of address from small to large. This process is repeated until all addresses in the EEPROM area are filled and the update is completed.

[0067] This update system belongs to the master-slave structure, with the spacecraft equipment as the active end and the software upgrade tool as the passive end. The active end initiates a request for program data and controls the address and length of data transmission; the passive end sends back the corresponding program data according to the requirements of the active end. After connecting the spacecraft equipment and turning on the power, the software upgrade tool sets the "handshake signal" to low to inform the spacecraft equipment that subsequent upgrades can be carried out; according to the data request of the spacecraft equipment, the program data is sent in accordance with the protocol content; and according to the "update completion signal" and "updating signal" sent by the spacecraft equipment, the corresponding indicator light is set. In addition, when the two are interacting with each other, the interface communication protocol between the spacecraft equipment and the software upgrade tool must meet certain requirements, mainly including:

[0068] (1) A protocol by which spacecraft equipment requests program data from software upgrade tools.

[0069] Serial number Data content Data length 1 Baotou 4 bytes 2 Data start address 4 bytes 3 Data length 4 bytes 4 Packet Accumulation Sum 4 bytes

[0070] (2) Protocol for software upgrade tools to send program data to spacecraft equipment.

[0071] Serial number Data content Data length 1 Baotou 4 bytes 2 Data start address 4 bytes 3 Program data content The length of the requested data is consistent 4 Packet Accumulation Sum 4 bytes

[0072] It should be noted that the above data length can be adjusted according to actual usage, and this application does not make any specific limitation.

[0073] like Figure 2 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for updating a spacecraft device program, which is applied to the above-mentioned spacecraft device program update system, and the method includes:

[0074] Step 100, connecting one end of the software upgrade tool to a mobile storage device and the other end to a spacecraft device, wherein the mobile storage device stores program data to be updated;

[0075] Step 102, when the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, in response to the on-orbit astronaut connecting the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool and connecting the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device, the program data to be updated is updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy.

[0076] In this step, the complete operation process of spacecraft equipment software upgrade is:

[0077] 1) Upload the program files that need to be upgraded to the astronauts on orbit through the space-ground mail system or other means;

[0078] 2) The astronaut stores the program files to be upgraded in a mobile storage device;

[0079] 3) The astronaut connects the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool, and then connects the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft equipment;

[0080] 4) The astronaut turns on the switch on the software upgrade tool;

[0081] 5) The spacecraft equipment requests the software upgrade tool to send program data, and performs software upgrade or update based on the received data, and sends the update progress to the software upgrade tool, which displays an indicator light;

[0082] 6) After the software upgrade tool displays "update completed", the astronaut turns off the switch on the software upgrade tool and disconnects from the spacecraft equipment;

[0083] 7) Restart the spacecraft equipment to load the upgraded / updated program.

[0084] It should be noted that the updating system and the updating method of the spacecraft equipment program of the present invention belong to the same inventive concept, and the scheme in the updating system is also applicable to the updating method, and the same contents will not be repeated here.

[0085] Finally, it should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first, second, third and fourth are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the statement "comprise a ..." do not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the elements.

[0086] The above is only a preferred implementation of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present application. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A spacecraft equipment program update system, characterized in that: include: Software upgrade tools and spacecraft equipment to be upgraded; One end of the software upgrade tool is used to connect to a mobile storage device, and the other end is used to connect to the spacecraft device, and the mobile storage device stores program data to be updated; When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the on-orbit astronaut connects the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool, and connects the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device to update the program data to be updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The software upgrade tool comprises a mobile storage interface, and the mobile storage device is connected to the software upgrade tool via the mobile storage interface.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The software upgrade tool and the spacecraft device are respectively provided with a plurality of one-to-one corresponding communication interfaces, and each of the communication interfaces is respectively used for information exchange between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft device.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that The communication interface at least includes a data communication interface, a handshake signal interface and a status signal interface; The data communication interface is used for data transmission between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft equipment; The handshake signal interface is used to confirm the connection status between the software upgrade tool and the spacecraft equipment; The status signal interface is used to send the working status of the spacecraft device to the software upgrade tool in the form of a status signal. The working status of the spacecraft device includes updating and updating completed, and the status signal includes an updating signal and an updating completed signal.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that When the software upgrade tool is connected to the spacecraft device and the software upgrade tool is powered on, the handshake signal is low; otherwise, the handshake signal is high; when the handshake signal is low, the spacecraft device program is updated, and when the handshake signal is high, the spacecraft device program is not updated.

6. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that The software upgrade tool comprises a human-machine interface, through which the on and off of the software upgrade tool and the display of handshake signals and status signals are controlled.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The program storage architecture of the spacecraft device includes at least: a BootLoader block, a data memory RAM block and a code memory EEPROM block; When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, the old program in the EEPROM area is moved to the SRAM area based on the BootLoader block, thereby obtaining an idle EEPROM area and an SRAM area storing the old program; the CPU in the spacecraft device maintains the on-orbit operation of the spacecraft by calling the old program in the SRAM area, and updates the program data to be updated to the idle EEPROM area, thereby completing the update of the spacecraft device program.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The updating of the program data to be updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy includes: Determining whether the software upgrade tool is started; If not started, the program of the equipment of the said spacecraft will not be updated; If enabled, it is executed for each run cycle: S1, determining whether the spacecraft equipment program in the current operation cycle has been updated; if updated, executing S2; if not updated, executing S3; S2, sending an update completion signal to the software upgrade tool and stopping the update; S3, requesting the software upgrade tool to retrieve the program data of the set number of bytes in a set order; and writing the retrieved program data into the corresponding address of the EEPROM area in the order of address from small to large, and returning to execute S1; S1 to S3 are executed cyclically until all program data to be updated are stored in the EEPROM area.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that The set number of bytes is determined based on the size of the storage address of the EEPROM area.

10. A method for updating a spacecraft device program, characterized in that: The updating system for the spacecraft equipment program according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: Connecting one end of the software upgrade tool to a mobile storage device and the other end to a spacecraft device, wherein the mobile storage device stores program data to be updated; When the spacecraft device program needs to be updated, in response to the on-orbit astronaut connecting the mobile storage device to the software upgrade tool and connecting the software upgrade tool to the spacecraft device, the program data to be updated is updated to the spacecraft device based on a preset strategy.

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