A Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) is a device that allow fast and easy integration of payloads, sensors and subsystems on complex systems like spacecraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Other common names for RTU's are Remote Data Concentrator (RDC) in aviation and Appliqué Sensor Interface Module (ASIM) in the US. RTU's or ASIM's are vital elements of the U.S. AFRL derived Space Plug and Play Avionics (SPA) standard.

ÅAC's RTU 100-CS is the world’s smallest RTU/ASIM interface. It weighs less than four grams and measures 34 x 34 x 2 mm. It is also extremely robust and can withstand harsh environments due to its LTCC substrate.

This Remote Terminal Unit is a flexible, miniaturized interface and control computer with support for many common protocols and analog/digital IO.

The RTU 100-CS can be used as a general sensor/actuator interface (SpaceWire, CAN, I²C, SPI, IO Bridge) and as an onboard computer for nanosatellites and microsatellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).

Ã…AC Microtec supports a flexible, user-friendly interface with a flash-based FPGA in the core that allows users to employ either Ã…AC supplied software or their own.

Download Ã…AC RTU-100-CS Data sheet (PDF, 480 KB)

Read more about how the RTU-100-CS can be used on the INOVATOR flight hardware page.

Feature summary:

• Up to 4 SpaceWire links
• Redundant, 2 CAN 2.0B
• 8051 processor core
• 80 General Purpose IO connected to FPGA (UART, SPI, I2C, etc.)
• 18 AD inputs
• 4 DA outputs
• 525 BGA interface (1.27 mm pitch)
• House keeping (voltages, current, and temperature)