How TTTech Aerospace supported the development of the Ariane 6 avionics backbone and the benefits of a TTEthernet data network
In July Europe’s new launcher Ariane 6 completed its first flight, boosting the European space transportation market and its first commercial flight will take place soon. This inaugural flight also marked a milestone for TTTech Aerospace, as the Ariane 6 program was an important steppingstone towards its space product portfolio based on TTEthernet, a mixed-criticality networking technology pioneered by TTTech.
The journey to this achievement began over a decade ago, with TTTech Aerospace’s involvement in ESA’s Future Launcher’s Preparatory Programme (FLPP). Co-funding from FLPP enabled TTTech to develop the first chip prototype and associated software. The radiation-hardened chip, qualified for use in space, was selected by ArianeGroup for the Ariane 6 program in 2015.
TTTech Aerospace’s role in Ariane 6
TTTech Aerospace contributes highly reliable TTEController ASICs for the launcher’s avionics. These radiation-hardened components ensure the safe and secure transfer of both safety-critical and non-critical data in the launcher’s data network. They are considered one of the innovations in the Ariane 6 program, offering high bandwidth and modularity, as well as an overall reduction in software cost.
Lower system cost and complexity with mixed-criticality networks
Many of the most recent launch and space transportation vehicles use Ethernet as their avionics network. TTEthernet is a deterministic implementation of Ethernet that ensures reliable delivery of safety-critical data (e.g., guidance, navigation, and control data) and non-critical data (e.g., monitoring or video data) on the same data network and the same physical medium. With high speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s, it can accommodate a wide range of applications, contributing to modularity, and reduced system complexity, which in turn lead to cost reductions.
The upgrade from Ethernet-based to TTEthernet-based avionics is simple and allows autonomous, fault-tolerant clock synchronization and seamless connectivity to Ethernet-based ground networks. But even avionics networks based on standard Ethernet will benefit from the performance and radiation-hardening of the TTEthernet Switch Controller HiRel.
Find out more
Read up on the history of the Ariane 6 project at TTTech Aerospace, our developments, and why scalable TTEthernet-based avionics backbones are a great fit for launchers:
