Highest performance 64-bit MPU family for new era of autonomous space computing

Microchip Technology has released the first devices in its planned family of PIC64 High-Performance Spaceflight Computing (PIC64-HPSC) MPUs.

Unlike previous spaceflight computing solutions, the radiation- and fault-tolerant PIC64-HPSC MPUs, which the company is delivering to NASA and the broader defence and commercial aerospace industry, integrate widely adopted RISC-V CPUs augmented with vector-processing instruction extensions to support AI/ML applications. The MPUs also feature a suite of features, 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 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 provide autonomous missions with the local processing power to execute real-time tasks such as rover hazard avoidance on the Moon's surface, while also allowing long-duration, deep-space missions like Mars expeditions requiring extremely low power consumption while withstanding harsh space conditions. For the commercial space sector, the RT PIC64-HPSC RT is designed to meet the needs of LEO constellations where system providers must prioritise low cost over longevity while also providing the high fault tolerance vital for round-the-clock service reliability and the cybersecurity of space assets.

"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."

The company'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.

The company will also provide a comprehensive PIC64-HPSC evaluation platform that includes the MPU, an expansion card and various peripheral daughter cards.