Space missions demand electronic systems capable of operating reliably for years in some of the harshest environments imaginable. Exposure to ionizing radiation can disrupt electronic circuits, causing failures that may jeopardize critical missions. To address this challenge, SOC-E has launched SpaceWire IP Core Resilient to the Effects of Space Ionizing Radiation (SW-RAD), an industrial research project focused on developing a new generation of radiation-resilient electronic components for space applications.
What is the project about?
The project’s main objective is to develop a SpaceWire IP Core capable of maintaining reliable operation even when exposed to radiation-induced effects. The solution is designed to be portable across multiple FPGA technologies and future European ASICs, strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty in advanced microelectronics for space systems.
SpaceWire IP Core Resilient to the Effects of Space Ionizing Radiation (SW-RAD) goes beyond the design of a single communication core. The project investigates advanced Hardening by Design (HBD) techniques, including Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR), Error Correction Codes (ECC), configuration scrubbing, and watchdog mechanisms to improve system reliability while balancing performance, resource utilization, and power consumption.
As part of the project, SOC-E will also develop three FPGA-based evaluation platforms—SW-RAD0, SW-RAD1, and SW-RAD2—featuring different levels of radiation protection. These demonstrators will enable the validation of the proposed architectures under representative laboratory conditions, providing valuable insights into their robustness and fault recovery capabilities.
Although primarily targeted at the space sector, the technologies developed within SpaceWire IP Core Resilient to the Effects of Space Ionizing Radiation (SW-RAD) have the potential to benefit other safety-critical industries, including defense, aerospace, nuclear energy, and high-reliability embedded systems, where resilience and fault tolerance are essential.
Through SpaceWire IP Core Resilient to the Effects of Space Ionizing Radiation (SW-RAD), SOC-E continues to reinforce its commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation in digital microelectronics, contributing to the development of next-generation resilient communication technologies and strengthening Europe’s strategic capabilities in advanced semiconductor design.
Project funded by Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan – Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
