Launched in January 2023, the European Commission-funded project METASAT kicked off to provide a holistic and modular model-based framework to design and test software modules that target open architecture hardware, high-performance computing platforms for the space and aviation domain.
This promising project combines the experience of knowledge generators like Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Ikerlan, and Collins Aerospace, with technology integrators like fentISS and OHB, one of the main end users from the space sector. Together, they will introduce a new approach of a model-based design toolchain that will save time when developing and deploying final applications.
METASAT was born as a result of the need to find a solution to manage the growing complexity of new satellite designs using reliable on-board software technology. To achieve so, the consortium will develop a new model-based engineering methodology to design software modules.
To reach its vision, this EU-funded project will leverage software virtualization layers through the use of XtratuM hypervisor on top of high-performance computing platforms based on the RISC-V open standard Instruction Set Architecture. The development of a toolchain to design software modules from high-level modeling languages for this hardware/software layer will be the project’s main focus. As a result, the consortium aims to impact in the time and cost of developing new systems, as currently costs are increasing due to the system complexity, reducing competitiveness, innovation, and potentially dependability across the industry.
About METASAT
METASAT (Modular model-based dEsign and Testing for Applications in SATellites) is a 24-month Research Innovation Action funded by the European Commission, which was launched on 1 January 2023. With a budget of € 1,999,500, the project addresses high-performance computing platforms within the space domain. It will introduce a holistic and modular model-based design framework to design and test software modules that target open hardware, high-performance computing platforms. The project consortium comprises five partners from three nationalities, all of whom have extensive experience in the safety-critical and aerospace domains.
