SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - Space Capable, High Data Throughput, Processing and Mass Storage
- Notice Date
- 2/1/2010
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL, Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117
- ZIP Code
- 87117
- Solicitation Number
- RFI_AFRL011510RVSE
- Point of Contact
- Nathaniel S. Francis, Phone: (505) 846-9333
- E-Mail Address
-
nathaniel.francis@kirtland.af.mil
(nathaniel.francis@kirtland.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION RFI REFERENCE NUMBER - AFRL011510RVSE RFI for Space Capable, High Data Throughput, Processing and Mass Storage The Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate is issuing this request for information (RFI) to solicit information supporting research and development of a special form of auto-provisiong optical network for space systems based on the Space Plug-and-play Avionics (SPA) concept. We are interested on feedback regarding the basic approach (referred to as "SPA-optical" or "SPA-O") and concepts that would contribute to the creation of a near-term testbed, especially for high-performance plug-in modules supporting scalable processing and mass storage. Background SPA is an approach for rapidly building spacecraft based on "plug-and-play" (PnP) mechanisms (see references [1] - [3]). This system is based on an interface-driven set of standards intended to promote the rapid development of spacecraft busses (platforms) and payloads. As such, SPA is an open systems framework, combining commercial standards (such as "SPA-U", based on USB and "SPA-S", based on spacewire) with carefully chosen hardware and software extensions necessary for modern real-time embedded systems (e.g. fault tolerance, higher power delivery, self-description). All SPA components are self-describing through extensible transducer electronic datasheets (xTEDS), supporting an infrastructure in which components are automatically discovered and networks self-organized. The upper limits of performance in SPA are dictated by the transport physical layer approaches (e.g. 12Mbps for SPA-U and 600Mbps for SPA-S). SPA-O extends the limited transport bandwidth of copper-based transports through the addition of an optical transport system consisting of a number of single- or multi-mode fibers (e.g., twelve) with an industry standard connector (e.g., "MT"). To simplify the ability to accommodate arbitrary wavelengths and protocols, SPA-S is retained in SPA-O as a control plane (as well as electrical power and synchronization signals), allowing for the structured and automated provisioning for a network of SPA-O components. In the spirit of concepts such as GMPLS [4], the use of a copper "back-door" tandem connection network allows SPA-O to accommodate the widest variation in optical network components, when they have been "prepared" to appear as SPA-O components. This "preparation" usually involves the integration of an appliqué sensor interface module (ASIM) with associated xTEDS descriptions of optical resources, and an optical transceiver. SPA-O, as a scalable optical plug-and-play technology, is intended to support the rapid creation of networks in embedded aerospace systems having the highest performance requirements, extensible to WDM-capable elements with very high transport rates on individual wavelengths (e.g., > 100 Gbps). The "plug-and-play" features permit complexity encapsulation, promoting the creation of high-performance complex components that appear simple. For example, a SPA-O mass storage device may appear to have a simple two-connection attachment to a network (e.g., a 25-pin micro-D SPA-S connector plus a 12-fiber MT connector), but could be capable of sustaining dozens of multi-Gpbs streams in flight simultaneously, each being possible on different fibers, wavelengths, and involving different transport protocols. SPA-O networks are expected to consist of some combination of the following canonical SPA-O device types: 1. SPA-O sensors. High-performance producers of data, such as imagers (panchromatic, hyper-spectral, radar, etc); 2. SPA-O transponders. High-performance radio or laser communications transceivers; 3. SPA-O mass storage units. High-performance (solid-state) storage systems 4. SPA-O processor units. High-performance clusters of FPGA-based, multicore, or other types of processors and processor arrays; 5. SPA-O switches. Optical cross connects, non-blocking crossbars, or other devices capable of supporting the flexible interconnection of SPA-O components. 6. SPA-O specialty/test devices. Other types of SPA-O devices supporting other functions, such as amplification, wavelength / protocol conversion, traffic grooming, and/or test and maintenance of SPA-O networks. 7. Null devices. Defined as SPA-S devices, interpreted as SPA-O devices having no optical transport connector, but capable of supporting elementary transport and control plane functions. Networks built in the first generation SPA-O approach are therefore expected to contain autoprovisionable connections between several devices of the aforementioned canonical types. Each SPA-O component of this network is expected to support one or more SPA-O ports (with each port having a SPA-S and fiber transport connector). Transport can be through either the copper or fiber channels available. Of course, it is expected that the optical transport channels of the SPA-O network are always used when (1) available, and (2) data rates higher than 600Mb/s (the limit of the SPA-S network) are needed between SPA-O devices. It is expected that the capabilities of initial testbed network will begin modestly. The available bandwidth of the optical network may start at 400Mb/s and hit a higher throughput ceiling (e.g., 10Gb/s) over a 12-month period. Follow on versions of the network will increase the throughput from 10Gb/s to 40Gb/s, and eventually 100Gb/s (and higher). SPA-O suggests a type of service-oriented architecture where components and software applications offer and consume services. Services could be as simple as a permutation of fibers, as complex as managing a theater-wide communications network, or processing space-based radar. Even as the first-generation (non-optical) SPA approaches have evolved as open standards, so too is the evolution of SPA-O expected to be a fully open technology to promote the interchange and interoperation of SPA-O components developed from the widest variety of sources. It is viewed that the perpetuation of proprietary formats are unhealthy to the emergence of future "super systems", in which the widest variety of high-performance components from a variety of suppliers can be freely intermingled in a grid-like matter. Just as the US interstate system of roadways were created to accommodate vehicles of all types for the forseeable future, it is the hope that the SPA-O project will accommodate the most advanced concepts for scalable processing and storage networks for the foreseeable future. It is conceivable that even a single SPA-O device (through future CWDM/DWDM and high-speed transceivers) could sustain bisection bandwidths well beyond several terabits/sec. Smart auto-provisioning applications, based on ideas already proven in first-generation SPA, could theoretically configure progressively more sophisticated components without an inherent need to redevelop the systems that contain them, to include the advent of all-optical routers and processors, seen in the present as hopeful but distant dream. Similarly, SPA-O networks could be developed to be resilient, auto-configuring to maintain desired qualities of service in the presence of faults and hazards. High Data Throughput Processing, Mass Storage on Orbit The architectural approach motivated by SPA-O raises questions worthy of reflection: • "How do we efficiently and quickly process the data for immediate use, or store the data for future use?" • How much storage capacity do we need? If we assume a ceiling rate of 10Gb/s, then any appreciable amount of time beyond 0.5 to 1 second will quickly saturate most solid state storage devices. So will we need to compress the data before it is either processed or stored? • If applications may have the ability to use more or less bandwidth depending on channel conditions/constraints and availability, how can scalable software applications be written to permit fluid amortization across scalable pools of storage and processing? • How do we embed the proper electronic descriptions within SPA-O components? What semantic infrastructure is needed to seamlessly admit these components dynamically into embedded systems? One could envision examples of single on board sensors broadcasting data to a bank of processing cores for analysis, while compressing and storing in parallel on other channels, while yet other channels prepare analyzed data for export "off satellite". In the presence of restrictions, what mechanisms can be devised and exposed to give systems the ability to maintain reasonable service quality. Other questions relate to the confining limits of orbital systems: • How small can we make these units? • Is it possible to have all the storage on a single printed circuit board? • Is it possible to make these devices sufficiently energy efficient to operate on orbiting platforms? Can we define energy awareness into components and applications, to permit sensible degradations in performance that maintain a reasonable possibility of salvaging mission requirements in the face of energy shortfalls? The purpose of this RFI is to gather information to assess the feasibility of funding research in this specific technology area and to gauge industry / academic interest and capability. The information can be in the form of white papers or presentations. This industry survey does not obligate the government in any manner for any future acquisitions. This is not a notice of intent to contract. The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request for information or otherwise pay for information solicited. Qualified participants are invited to submit and or demonstrate their interests and capability in writing. Only detailed written responses, received not later than 4 PM local time, 31 Mar 2010 will be reviewed. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to pursue research in this specific technical area. Please keep responses to a maximum of ten (10) pages. The Government prefers a non-proprietary submission, however, should the response contain proprietary information, it shall be clearly marked on each page, as applicable. Respondents shall identify their company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and their business status (e.g., small business, large business, non-profit). Responses by mail should be addressed to: Air Force Research Laboratory/RVSE Attn: Space Plug and Play Optical (SPA-O) Project Nathaniel Shane Francis 3550 Aberdeen Ave SE Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776 Or, submit by E-mail, addressed to nathaniel.francis@kirtland.af.mil For questions regarding this RFI, please contact Nathaniel Shane Francis by email (above) or telephone (505) 846-9333. REFERENCES 1. Lyke, J., et.al., "Space Plug-and-play Avionics", Proceedings of the AIAA 3rd Responsive Space Conference, Long Beach, CA, April 25-28, 2005, available at. http://www.responsivespace.com/Papers/RS3%5CSESSION%20PAPERS%5CSESSION%205%5C5001-LYKE%20&%20FRONTERHOUSE%5C5001P.pdf ) 2. Lyke, J., et.al., "A Plug-and-play System for Spacecraft Components Based on the USB Standard", proceedings of the 19th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, UT, 8-11 August, 2005. An Industry Day is not planned. The Government reserves the right to contact respondents for clarifications or additional information. THE INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT IN ANY MANNER NOR WILL THE GOVERNMENT REIMBURSE CONTRACTORS FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBMITTAL OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. THIS REQUEST DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN INVITATION FOR BID OR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
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