Microchip Technology has introduced the RT PolarFire® system-on-chip (SoC) FPGA, aimed at developers of spacecraft electronics. These developers require radiation-tolerant (RT) field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to ensure high performance, reliability, power-efficiency, and security for space applications. The RT PolarFire SoC FPGA is the first real-time Linux-capable, RISC-V-based microprocessor subsystem built on Microchip's RT PolarFire FPGA fabric.

The availability of the commercially accessible PolarFire SoC (MPFS460) device and Libero SoC development tools empowers developers to start designing with the new FPGA. Microchip's Mi-V ecosystem, along with PolarFire SoC solution stacks and development kits like the PolarFire SoC Icicle Kit or the PolarFire SoC Smart Embedded Vision Kit, provide a comprehensive platform for developing lower power solutions suitable for the thermal environments encountered in space.

The RT PolarFire SoC FPGAs feature a multi-core Linux-capable processor that is coherent with the memory subsystem. This enables central satellite processing capabilities, similar to those found in single board computers commonly used in the space industry for command and data handling, platform avionics, and payload control. The SoC facilitates flexible implementation of highly integrated designs, customization, and function evolution, while also addressing size, weight, and power considerations.

Radiation poses a significant challenge for systems deployed in space, necessitating design methodologies that provide protection against radiation-induced upsets. Unlike SRAM FPGAs, the RT PolarFire SoC is designed to withstand radiation-induced memory upsets, eliminating the need for an external scrubber and reducing system costs. Additionally, the SoC's power consumption reduction of up to 50 percent simplifies satellite design and allows designers to focus on the mission objectives.

Microchip's Mi-V ecosystem supports symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) operating systems such as Linux, VxWorks, PIKE OS, as well as real-time operating systems like RTEMS and Zephyr. It offers a suite of tools and design resources to support RISC-V designs and aims to promote the adoption of the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) in conjunction with Microchip's SoC FPGA portfolio.

The RT PolarFire FPGA has already received the Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) Class Q designation, indicating compliance with specific performance and quality requirements governed by the Defense Logistics Agency. It is also on track to achieve QML Class V qualification, the highest standard for space microelectronics.

Microchip has a long history of providing solutions for spaceflight missions, and the introduction of the RT PolarFire SoC FPGA builds on this expertise. The company's FPGAs have powered high-speed communications payloads, high-resolution sensors, instruments, and flight-critical systems for various space applications, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and deep space missions.

To learn more, visit Microchip’s radiation-tolerant FPGA page.