CDPU - Modular Payload Control & Onboard Data Processing

Technolution develops the Control & Data Processing Unit (CDPU), a modular architecture combining instrument control and onboard data processing. It connects payload instruments to the spacecraft platform and provides a reusable basis for mission-specific electronics and embedded software. The development programme is carried out with NLR - Netherlands Aerospace Centre.

For instrument developers, CDPU provides a basis for instrument interfacing, command and telemetry handling, and application-specific data processing. For spacecraft integrators, it supports the integration of payload functions into the platform architecture. Applications include optical instruments, Earth observation and other science and defence-related payloads.

The CDPU Evaluation Kit is available now. It provides an entry point for evaluating interfaces, embedded software and processing applications before defining a mission-specific implementation.

The modular approach allows us to explore preprocessing, compression and AI acceleration according to application needs. We are developing the architecture towards multi-instrument use, including isolation between applications and a dedicated security architecture. These capabilities and their assurance requirements must be assessed for each implementation.

We would like to meet instrument builders and spacecraft integrators with a concrete payload control or processing requirement. A useful first step is to agree an evaluation use case, interfaces, processing needs and success criteria.

More information: https://www.technolution.com/cdpu