Arm-based space engineering models enable space project design and validation

Teledyne e2v has announced engineering models of the LX2160-Space 16-core Arm Cortex A72-based SoC processor. These models allow early project design, hardware, and software validation for space-demanding applications. The engineering models have the same fit/form/function as flight models (FMs).

The models can be used in many heavy computing applications in Space, from Earth Observation Satellites to Early Warning systems and Telecom, including data processing in 5G NTN SatComs. With its 200k DMIPS capabilities, the processor can handle compute-intensive data and image-processing tasks. Its rich set of peripherals and high efficiency versus power consumption per core of around 2W provides embedded engineers with unparalleled performance in the smallest form factor and optimised power envelope.

The device benefits from the company's 40+ years of experience and a track record in qualifying digital processing solutions for high-reliability environments, initially on PowerPC processors and now on Arm. Today, the company offers the Arm-based processor as a fully defence-qualified device. Its LX2160-Space project is currently under development. Characterisation against radiation is ongoing, and some reports have already been made available to customers. The company proposes to have a range of radiation-tolerant space grades qualified up to NASA Level 1 for H2 2025.

Thomas Guillemain, marketing and business development manager, Data, Processing Systems, said: "We are really proud to have achieved the milestone of LX2160-Space Engineering Models availability since we see a tremendous interest in this device. Indeed, with Telecom Satellites having to deal with more data packets to process at a higher speed, Earth Observation satellites handling bigger sensor resolutions and higher frame rate requirements, and bottom line an increased amount of data to perform autonomous decisions on board including running AI algorithms, LX2160-Space is the right processing chipset for Space applications."

LX2160-Space will be available in several Space Grades, from New Space to NASA 1.