Space radiation can damage data, cause processors to crash or even shut down systems. Furthermore, Europe wishes to reduce its dependence on suppliers from outside the EU. The TRISTAN consortium therefore investigated RISC-V, an open processor technology, as a European alternative for computers in satellites.
Tested at HollandPTC and CERN
The NLR built a special test rig featuring a Technolution processor. Eight variants, each with a different form of protection, were exposed to radiation at HollandPTC and at the European research centre CERN. The processor carried out different tasks in each instance.
What it delivers
Methods that monitor the accuracy of data proved to be the most effective. They significantly reduced errors, whilst the processor consumed hardly any more energy or became any larger. Using the measurement data, designers can predict how often errors occur in space and choose the best configuration for new missions. The research is contributing to the development of a control unit for small satellites in the Netherlands.
