Upscreening of NVE IL611 Digital Isolator

Abstract

The Compliant Assistance and Exploration SpAce Robot (CAESAR) is the space qualified equivalent to the current service robot systems for manufacturing and human-robot cooperation. It was developed by the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and is designed for a variety of on-orbit services e.g. assembly, maintenance, repair, and debris removal in LEO/GEO. It is used within the European Robotic Orbital Support Services In Orbit Demonstrator (EROSS IOD) mission. Crucial for the operation of the robotic arm is the central power unit which have to fulfill multiple requirements of the robotic arm and of the spacecraft on the other hand. Since the design of the Base Power and Isolation Unti (BPIU) is such, that the primary power domain of the Spacecraft is galvanically isolated from the secondary power domain, digital signals e.g. for retrieving housekeeping information have to be routed through this isolation barrier which requires digital isolators. These parts are able to withstand a voltage difference between both power domains and transmit a digital signal from one domain to the other. Within the current BPIU design, the tested digital isolator IL611 from NVE shall be used for this task. Therefore, the part was screened for Total Ionizing Dose (TID) initially. Afterwards a Proton Test and a Heavy Ion Test were conducted. This paper highlights the most important results of the conducted tests.