Issue #4(30) 2021 Astronautics

FPGA computing reaches new heights

David Miller Alpha Data Parallel Systems, Edinburgh, UK
Andrew McCormick Alpha Data Parallel Systems, Edinburgh, UK

Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) circuits have been used in space applications for many years, including on multiple Mars rover missions. Here, the authors describe the many advantages of FPGAs and some of their applications in the space industry.

As their name suggests, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) circuits are designed to be reprogrammable ‘in the field’, rather than having their functions ‘fixed’ once and for all at the point of manufacture.

The reconfigurable nature of FPGAs at a hardware level allows for the implementation of redundancy and radiation tolerance, which is of significant importance in space applications. It also allows for efficient hardware design, time sharing of logic depending on the current function required, future upgrades, and the ability to reset and recover from faults by scrubbing the circuit. FPGAs also have a low power consumption, making them an ideal solution for a wide range of markets from image processing to medical applications and wireless communications.

If you already have a login and password to access www.room.eu.com - Please log in to be able to read all the articles of the site.

Popular articles

See also

Astronautics

Sunshades in space could help alleviate Earth’s climate crisis

Astronautics

Space 1.0 to Space 3.0: from Gagarin to market growth

Environment

Recipe for success on flights to Mars

Popular articles

Artist rendering of the Lunar I-Hab module delivery to Gateway on the Artemis IV mission. Specials

Racing to the Moon

Artist’s impression depicting a satellite deployment in Earth orbit after launch by HANBIT. Astronautics

South Korea’s rising rocket star