The world has changed dramatically in the two decades since the
debut of what was then considered a trail-blazing space-grade
processor used in NASA missions such as the comet-chasing Deep
Impact spacecraft and Mars Curiosity rover vehicle. A report
released by the World Economic Forum estimated that the space
hardware and the space service industry is set to grow at a CAGR of
7% from 2023’s $330 billion dollars to $755 billion dollars by
2035. To support a diverse and growing global space market with a
rapidly expanding variety of computational needs, including more
autonomous applications, Microchip Technology
(Nasdaq:
MCHP) has launched the first devices in its planned family
of PIC64 High-Performance Spaceflight Computing
(
PIC64-HPSC) microprocessors (MPUs).
Unlike previous spaceflight computing solutions,
the radiation- and fault-tolerant PIC64-HPSC MPUs, which Microchip
is delivering to NASA and the broader defense and commercial
aerospace industry, integrate widely adopted RISC-V® CPUs augmented
with vector-processing instruction extensions to support Artificial
Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) applications. The MPUs also
feature a suite of features and industry-standard interfaces and
protocols not previously available for space applications. A
growing ecosystem of partners is being assembled to expedite the
development of integrated system-level solutions. This ecosystem
features Single-Board Computers (SBCs), space-grade companion
components and a network of open-source and commercial software
partners.
“This is a giant leap forward in the advancement
and modernization of the space avionics and payload technology
ecosystem,” said Maher Fahmi, corporate vice president, Microchip
Technology’s communications business unit. “The PIC64-HPSC family
is a testament to Microchip’s longstanding spaceflight heritage and
our commitment to providing solutions built on industry-leading
technologies and a total systems approach to accelerate our
customers’ development process.”
The Radiation-Hardened (RH) PIC64-HPSC RH is
designed to give autonomous missions the local processing power to
execute real-time tasks such as rover hazard avoidance on the
Moon’s surface, while also enabling long-duration, deep-space
missions like Mars expeditions requiring extremely low-power
consumption while withstanding harsh space conditions. For the
commercial space sector, the Radiation-Tolerant (RT) PIC64-HPSC RT
is designed to meet the needs of Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
constellations where system providers must prioritize low cost over
longevity, while also providing the high fault tolerance that is
vital for round-the-clock service reliability and the cybersecurity
of space assets.
PIC64-HPSC MPUs offer a variety of capabilities,
many of which were not previously available for space computing
applications, including:
- Space-grade 64-bit MPU architecture: Includes eight SiFive®
RISC-V X280 64-bit CPU cores supporting virtualization and
real-time operation, with vector extensions that can deliver up to
2 TOPS (int8) or 1 TFLOPS (bfloat16) of vector performance for
implementing AI/ML processing for autonomous missions.
- High-speed network connectivity: Includes a 240 Gbps Time
Sensitive Networking (TSN) Ethernet switch for 10 GbE connectivity.
Also supports scalable and extensible PCIe® Gen 3 and Compute
Express Link® (CXL®) 2.0 with x4 or x8 configurations and includes
RMAP-compatible SpaceWire ports with internal routers.
- Low-latency data transfers: Includes Remote Direct Memory
Access (RDMA) over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2) hardware
accelerators to facilitate low-latency data transfers from remote
sensors without burdening compute performance, which maximizes
compute capabilities by bringing data close to the CPU.
- Platform-level defense-grade security: Implements
defense-in-depth security with support for post-quantum
cryptography and anti-tamper features.
- High fault-tolerance capabilities: Supports Dual-Core Lockstep
(DCLS) operation, WorldGuard hardware architecture for end-to-end
partitioning and isolation, and an on-board system controller for
fault monitoring and mitigation.
- Flexible power tuning: Includes dynamic controls to balance the
computational demands required by the multiple phases of space
missions with tailored activation of functions and interfaces.
“Microchip's PIC64-HPSC family replaces the
purpose-built, obsolescence-prone solutions of the past with a
high-performance and scalable space-grade compute processor
platform supported by the company’s vibrant and growing development
ecosystem,” said Kevin Kinsella, Architect - System Security
Engineering with Northrop Grumman. “This innovative and
forward-looking architecture integrates the best of the past
40-plus years of processing technology advances. By uniquely
addressing the three critical areas of reliability, safety and
security, we fully expect the PIC64-HPSC to see widespread adoption
in air, land and sea applications.”
In 2022, NASA selected Microchip to develop a
High-Performance Spaceflight Computing processor that could
provide at least 100 times the computational capacity of current
spaceflight computers. This key capability would advance future
space missions, from planetary exploration to lunar and Mars
surface missions. The PIC64-HPSC is the result of that partnership.
Representatives from NASA, Microchip and industry leaders like
Northrop Grumman will share insights about the HPSC technology and
ecosystem at the IEEE Space Compute Conference 2024, July 15–19 in
Mountain View, California:
- Conference Keynote – Dr. Prasun Desai, Deputy Associate
Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA:
Dr. Desai will speak about the agency’s strategy for advanced
computing and investment in HPSC technology.
- HPSC Workshop, “HPSC: Redefine What’s Possible for the Future
of Space Computing”: Prasun Desai will join Microchip and JPL
speakers to provide an overview of HPSC program and platform.
Invited aerospace industry partner Kevin Kinsella from Northrop
Grumman will also share insights on the significance of HPSC for
spaceflight computing. A Q&A session will follow.
Microchip’s inaugural PIC64-HPSC MPUs were
launched in tandem with the company’s PIC64GX MPUs
that enable intelligent edge designs in the industrial, automotive,
communications, IoT, aerospace and defense segments. With the
launch of its PIC64GX MPU family, Microchip has become the only
embedded solutions provider actively developing a full spectrum of
8-, 16-, 32- and 64-bit solutions.
Microchip has a broad portfolio of solutions
designed for the aerospace and defense market including processing
with Radiation-Tolerant (RT) and Radiation-Hardened (RH) MCUs,
FPGAs and Ethernet PHYs, power devices, RF products, timing, as
well as discrete components from bare die to system modules.
Additionally, Microchip offers a wide range of components on the
Quality Products List (QPL) to better serve its customers.
Comprehensive Ecosystem
Microchip’s new PIC64-HPSC MPUs will be supported by a
comprehensive space-grade ecosystem and innovation engine that
encompasses flight-capable, industry-standard SBCs, a community of
open-source and commercial software partners and the implementation
of common commercial standards to help streamline and accelerate
the development of system-level integrated solutions. Early members
in the ecosystem include: SiFive, Moog®, IDEAS-TEK, Ibeos, 3D PLUS,
Micropac, Wind River®, Linux Foundation, RTEMS, Xen, Lauterbach®,
Entrust® and many more. For information visit Microchip’s
PIC64-HPSC MPU ecosystem partners webpage.
Microchip will also offer a comprehensive
PIC64-HPSC evaluation platform that incorporates the MPU, an
expansion card and a variety of peripheral daughter cards.
Pricing and Availability
PIC64-HPSC samples will be available to Microchip’s early access
partners in 2025. For additional information, please contact a
Microchip sales representative.
Resources High-res images
available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to
publish): • Application image:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/53797778975/sizes/l/
About Microchip
Technology: Microchip Technology Inc. is
a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control
and processing solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and
comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal
designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time
to market. The company’s solutions serve approximately 123,000
customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace
and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in
Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support
along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information,
visit the Microchip website at
www.microchip.com.
Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip
logo and PolarFire are registered trademarks of Microchip
Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All
other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their
respective companies.
Editorial Contact: |
Reader Inquiries: |
Amber Liptai |
1-888-624-7435 |
480-792-5047 |
|
amber.liptai@microchip.com |
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