Next Generation Rad Hard Reduced Instruction Set Computer

ABSTRACT:Radiation hardened microelectronics is a continuing requirement for DoD and commercial spacecraft. The generational gap between commercial devices and space rated devices keeps widening due to ever increasing qualification costs and complexities inherent in smaller geometries and advanced processes. Radiation hardened computing capability is an even harder problem due to the constraints imposed by current spacecraft systems requirements. On-board computing is increasingly desirable due to payload heterogeneity and increasing amounts of data produced by payloads and sensors.To address this opportunity, IDEAS-TEK will use a low cost ASIC flow in Phase 2 to build the 32-bit RISC designed in Phase 1 in a radiation hardened integrated circuit (IC). The ICs main radiation hardened features are: Immunity to destructive latchup, total ionizing dose tolerance > 300 Mrad (Si) up to 1 Mrad (Si), Single Event Effect (SEE) immunity to 60 MeV and operating temperature range from -55 C to +125 C.The objective of the program is two fold: 1)To build a trusted, radiation hardened 32-bit RISC processor and 2) to demonstrate a cheap path to build trusted, radiation hardened digital ICsBENEFIT:The programs main benefits will be the demonstration of an inexpensive, publicly available path to develop trusted radiation hardened digital ICs and the creation of an inexpensive radiation hardened 32-bit RISC ASIC that can be identically replicated on programmable logic devices.Both benefits address current AFRL - and the aerospace community in general - needs.The program will boost the radiation hardened IC market by allowing different design teams to generate new designs by either using open source components and libraries or licensing it from publicly available sources.Both goals of the program have their main commercial applications in the civil and military aerospace markets.The RISC processor can be used as a reliable computing engine while the inexpensive path to trusted radiation hardened silicon can be use to design and implement digital and mixed signal ICs to fulfil different mission profiles.Additionally the RISC processor can be used in nuclear applications, while its embodiment in other hardware platforms (e.g FPGAs) can be used in fault tolerant applications (automotive, medical) where reliability is a priority.