Capabilities

• Variety of lasers and light sources
• Optical tables, mounting equipment, and a range of optics, as well as optical spectrometers, Blackbody system, and Novocontrol Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy Systems
• Wide assortment of electronics and mechanical components used to fabricate prototype systems to meet field problems
• Mathematica, LabVIEW, COMSOL, Matlab and other software packages used to perform modeling and system analysis
• Avionics hardware and software simulation/emulation tools

Applied Physics Lab Flight Payload and Instrument Software and Avionics Development

• The APL develops innovative, comprehensive ground and flight software systems supporting throughout project lifecycle from basic instrument development through space flight mission operations
• The APL develops low-cost, terrestrial and space-ready radiation tolerant avionics systems for individual instruments as well as payload systems for space flight operations

APL Capabilities, Software

• Generic payload embedded flight software architecture & development – automation, instrument control, compatible with Core Flight System
• Ground control system software architecture & development – displays, gateway, ground processing (LCC Firing Room, etc)
• Lab support software for instrument or subsystem development – displays, control, logging
• Architecture, infrastructure and process to provide fully flight-forward payload embedded and ground system software for lab support for instrument development/test/ops – no throwaway lab software!
• Remote integration of subsystems/instruments from around KSC to across the country
• Support a variety of flight processors
• Web interfaced database for Data Distribution Service logging, retrieval & data viewing tool
• Database design & development – Master Measurement List for cmd & telemetry
• Instrument/subsystem real-time modeling down to signal level
• Automated testing – software and hardware

APL Tools, Software

• Enterprise Architect, Magic Draw
• Embedded Linux & Ubuntu Linux
• Data Distribution Service – interfacing w/C++, LabVIEW, web-based logging & retrieval tool
• C++
• JavaScript, Node.js
• Virtual Machine Language (VML)
• Labview – Windows, Real-Time & FPGA
• Mathworks – Simulink, Matlab, Simscape, xPC & Speedgoat
• C – Instrument firmware
• Trac – Issue tracking, Wiki
• Jenkins – Build system
• Subversion – Configuration management
• Windows Visual Studio
• Various database applications

APL Capabilities, Avionics

• Flight payload/instrument control systems
• Radiation tolerant electrical design (circuits, controls)
• Controls development and testing
• Design of Shop Aides and Ground Support Equipment
• Software/firmware design, development and test
• Support variety of DSPs, micro and embedded processors
• FPGA development
• VHDL & HDL
• Power supply design

APL Tools, Avionics

• Altium
• Spice
• LabVIEW
• FPGA development tools
• Microcontroller development tools
• Matlab
• Mathcad