CubeFlow Training Courses

CubeFlow is a dynamic new satellite system design paradigm based on the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)'s Space Plug-and-Play Architecture (SPA) and the online development tools developed by Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL). This web-based design system allows space system developers to rapidly integrate spacecraft components through a common interface and bus architecture in compact spacecraft, or CubeSats.

Benefits to CubeFlow Training attendees and their organizations include:

	Increased familiarity with AFRL's SPA and the CubeFlow tools developed by SDL;
	Acquiring the skills and tools to develop SPA-based CubeFlow-compliant modules, systems, nanosatellite constellations, and to ensure interoperability with designs from others;
	Meeting personnel from other like-minded organizations to facilitate collaboration; and
	Better understanding of the network of resources available to those developing SPA-based CubeFlow-compliant designs.

COSMIAC, in collaboration with SDL, offers courses to train industry, government, and education professionals in the use of CubeFlow.

	CubeFlow 101 is a two-day course designed to introduce attendees to the concepts of the CubeFlow design methodology and the steps needed to compile simple spacecraft designs. Attendees learn to use CubeFlow tools to develop the following:
	xTEDs - Extended Transducer Electronic Datasheets, or "xTEDs," are XML-based datasheets and important elements of the black-box abstraction that is central to SPA. xTEDs contain a description of the "knobs" that may be turned, the values that can be dialed in, the measurements that can be extracted, and device characteristics and properties useful to other applications within a SPA-based system. ASIMs - Applique Sensor Interface Modules (ASIMs) are special-purpose hardware modules designed to interface with SPA devices. ASIMs are programmed to generate the native command structures of their client devices and to encapsulate the electronic datasheets that describe the devices. SDM - The Satellite Data Model (SDM) performs the central role of registering SPA devices as they are found in the system. Sensor Module - The user application module that accepts sensor data streams, processes the sensor data, and initiates signals that actuate subsystems based on CubeFlow standards.
	CubeFlow 301 is a two-day course that covers the following advanced CubeFlow concepts (Prerequisite: CubeFlow 101):
	Soft Intellectual Property (IP) core implementation of the ASIM for programmable logic designs; Advances in ASIC-based ASIMs; and Development of external devices that interface to ASIMs and the SDM.
	COSMIAC also provides a brief two-hour CubeFlow Introduction seminar. This executive level overview provides the necessary information to determine whether CubeFlow is a suitable strategy for your component, system, or spacecraft design.

See the EVENTS page for upcoming CubeFlow course dates.

CubeFlow Developer Kits

COSMIAC's learning and prototyping kits are included with COSMIAC training or can be procured separately. Neither kit contains flight qualified hardware. COSMIAC offers two types of CubeFlow development kits:

	The Flight Emulation Kit is designed to provide students and engineers with the capability to design and integrate multiple non-space-qualified modules into a CubeSat. This kit contains the following items:
	One laptop PC with all of the required software pre-loaded and pre-configured; One 2U aluminum satellite structure; Two ASIMs; One wireless module for communicating with the laptop PC; One central processing unit for the Satellite Data Module software; and One sturdy carrying case.
	The Flight Emulation Kit contains all of the items needed to perform prototype development, to create individual modules, and to configure the entire satellite as demonstrated in the training course. This kit does not contain flight qualified hardware. The wireless module permits remote satellite configuration which is useful in emulating a remote "in-flight" reconfiguration.

	The Bench Kit contains a basic set of non-flight qualified CubeFlow elements:
	One laptop PC with all of the required software pre-loaded and pre-configured; One Gumstix module for emulating the Satellite Data Module; One AT90 USB Key for emulating the ASIM functionality; and One storage container.
	This low-cost Bench Kit contains all the items needed to develop an xTED, ASIM, and SDM, and to demonstrate their functionality. This kit does not contain flight qualified hardware.