[Sls-slp] Hummingbird

[Hooke, Adrian J (9000)]

http://wiki.github.com/JohannesKlug/hummingbird/

Mission
Create a simple, stable, scalable and standard compliant open source satellite Mission Control System (MCS) for nano and micro satellites.

Data Format
The core types of data transfered in the system are
    * Frames. Fixed length space frames.
    * Packets. Variable length packets.
    * Parameters. Variable length parameter.
These core data types are all defined fully compliant to the CCSDS Frame and Packet standards, i.e. the Frame header and the Packet header(s) structure is defined according to CCSDS.

FAQ

Q: Who should use Hummingbird?
A: The target is a system for nano / micro satellites.

The system is not intended to, and never will be, replace major agency systems, used to control science, earth observation and deep space probes. For these systems much more mature and systems are needed, and a number of such systems already exist.

What is missing is a low cost, easy to install, simple to use system, which university groups and private industry can use to provide simple solutions to nano / micro satellite missions.

Q: Why not a generic monitoring and control system?
A: Because it would break the concept of simplicity.

The core concept of Hummingbird, that of a system ordered according to a Space System Model could of cause easily be used to model other, non-space related systems. However we would then have to use generic terms as well, and thing about generic problems, instead of solving the problem at hand. That's the first step to failure.

Q: What is the License?
A: We haven't decided yet.

The license is yet to be decided, but it will be open and not GPL. LGPL is the most likely candidate, as we would like you to use the software and link with it without getting into IPR problems, and yet we would like you to help us improve by contributing back.

Q: Who is the development team?
A: Anyone, but currently mainly Logica employees.

Anyone can join. Currently its mainly Logica employees, all working in the space domain for the European Space Agency as well as national agencies and space industry, who use Hummingbird as a sandbox to prove concepts and to realize system ideas.

Q: Why the name 'Hummingbird'?
A: Its small, its agile, its fast and beautiful.

It's a Hummingbird.

Q: Has it been flight proven?
A: No, not yet.

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