Multicriteria evaluation of industry-known interfaces of onboard network of CubeSat nanosatellites

The technology of building CubeSat-class nanosatellites has created a breakthrough in exploring near space for research and education. The availability of commercial solutions for the rapid integration of hardware and software of a CubeSat under development and the launch of such a nano-satellite into Earth orbit as a parasitic payload has made this technology accessible and attractive to universities worldwide. Despite this popularity, the statistics of nanosatellite failures after launch require a systematic approach to their design and construction and the selection of off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The object of the study is to determine the overall efficiency of standardized network interfaces when used in the onboard network of CubeSat nanosatellites. The subject of the article is a method for comprehensively evaluating the effectiveness of standardized network interfaces for data exchange in the onboard network of CubeSat nanosatellites, taking into account typical scenarios for data and command exchange. The aim of the study was to substantiate the method of expert evaluation of the technical efficiency of standardized network interfaces for data exchange in the onboard network of CubeSat nanosatellites, taking into account the following factors: energy efficiency, multi-mastering capability, resistance to electromagnetic interference, redundancy, coverage following the OSI network model, data transmission speed, and complexity of network technology implementation by software. Objectives: To analyze modern methods of organizing onboard avionics networks of nanosatellites of the CubeSat class, formulate an expert comparison model, and compare the selected information onboard networks following the model and the list of selected networks and their protocols. Results: an expert model consisting of a 7-factor comparison was created, modern and most widely used in the industry onboard networks were selected, and each network was compared according to the proposed model. Conclusions: The two most common and efficient models, I2C and CAN, were selected as recommended for use in the avionics of the KhAI1Sat nanosatellite and the “Boryviter”/”Falco” onboard computer being developed by the authors. Although the difference in power consumption between these two types of networks is significant, each has certain advantages in terms of noise immunity, multicasting, and application.