Radpc: radiation-tolerant computer for aerospace applications
FPGA-based self-repairing computer survives radiation using commercial off-the-shelf parts.
A small lightweight computer that can resist damage from radiation exposure from low-orbit to deep space missions.
Background
Radiation in space poses serious risk to computers on satellites and other spacecraft. Typically, computers in aerospace applications require expensive, custom-designed circuitry and shielding to fortify against radiation emitted by the sun and other celestial bodies. Such designs drive up costs, add size and weight to specifications and limit the ability to use Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) technology.
As low-orbit satellite systems are deployed and commercial space companies are expanding, there is a growing demand for a COTS solution to radiation hardening.
Description
The MSU technology, RadPC, uses multiple inexpensive COTS computer processors known as Field-Programable Gate Arrays or FPGA's. The FPGA's operate in parallel, so that when a radiation particle disrupts one, the others recognize the fault, can take over the computation and reprogram to self-repair themselves.
RadPC self-repair is accomplished by having nine redundant array of processors so that spares can take over during radiation caused disruption and reprogram the system. At any given time, three of the cores run in triple modular redundancy (TMR) with the rest available as spares.
NASA support for the past ten years has enabled the MSU team to bring the RadPC to high Technology Readiness Level of TRL-8 through deployment in high-balloons and sounding research rockets.
In 2019 the RadPC was launched in a small satellite (CubeSat) mission from the International Space Station and remains in orbit today. The success of these projects has resulted in the RadPC being selected by NASA to be part of a lunar payload in 2021 to demonstrate that it can withstand solar and other radiation in deep space and have the potential to be part of a future Mars manned mission.
Benefits
- Low cost solution
- Allows Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) software
- Light weight
- Advanced Technology Readiness Level of TRL-8
Opportunity
- Collaborate with ongoing research program with lunar mission deployment in 2021
- Schematics and FPGA code available for licensing
- Researchers are available for consultation and R&D projects
About Montana State University
Montana State University's substantial research enterprise growth has been accompanied by focused investments in innovation and research translation, creating new opportunities for companies to engage with MSU research and expertise. A particular strength is MSU’s network of specialized centers, institutes, and industry-accessible core facilities, which bring together multidisciplinary expertise, advanced research infrastructure, testing capabilities, and established pathways for working with industry partners. MSU is one of a select group of universities participating in the NSF's Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, which is building the capacity and infrastructure needed to translate more research discoveries into solutions with real-world impact. The growing MSU Innovation Campus and expanding incubator infrastructure provide additional opportunities for university-industry interaction, startup development, and technology-focused companies. These efforts are complemented by MSU’s Technology Transfer Office, which works with researchers and companies to protect and license MSU inventions and facilitate industry-sponsored research collaborations.
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