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NASA chooses RISC-V as next-generation aerospace computing chip

Update time : 2022-09-09 13:56:56

SiFive, a well-known RISC-V chip designer in the United States, announced:NASA selected RISC-V to provide the core CPU as the next generation of high-performance aerospace computing (HPSC).
SiFive claims the processor will provide at least 100 times the computing power of current space computers and will be suitable for all types of future space missions, from planetary exploration to missions to the surface of the moon and Mars.

As soon as the news came out, some netizens expressed surprise: I thought that NASA would choose a CPU that has been tested, but I did not expect to choose RISC-V.
So what are the considerations behind this choice? Come take a look.
Why choose RISC-V?
First, let's get to know the carrier of the RISC-V chip - HPSC.
HPSC, the next generation of high-performance aerospace computing being built by NASA, aims to replace the aging PowerPC-based BAE system's RAD750 single-board computer.
Wesley Powell, NASA's lead technologist for advanced avionics, said:
Our current spaceflight computers were developed nearly 30 years ago, and while they have performed well on past missions, future NASA missions will require significant improvements in onboard computing power and reliability.
New computing processors will provide the advancements in performance, fault tolerance and flexibility needed to meet these future mission demands.It is based on this that RISC-V that meets these conditions will come out.
According to SiFive's official website, in addition to the four general-purpose SiFive RISC-V cores, the HPSC will also use the 8-core SiFive X280 RISC-V vector core.
The X280, a multi-core, multi-cluster capable RISC-V processor, provides full support for the RISC-V vector extension standard and SiFive intelligent extension, and is optimized for AI/ML computing at the edge.
This also means that the X280 can maintain the low power consumption of the platform while having six times higher performance than standard RISC-V cores.
In addition to pure performance, chips for outer space must also be able to cope with harsh operating conditions, and the new fault-tolerant processor is one of the characteristics of the X280.
Last, and probably most important, is the open source nature of RISC-V.
According to Jack Kang, senior vice president of business development at SiFive, the RISC-V architecture is one of the most likely to have a large developer base in 10, 15, or even 20 years, so choosing RISC-V would be one for NASA Safe bet.
In summary, with high performance, low power consumption, fault-tolerant properties and long service life, it is not surprising that RISC-V can be promoted to aerospace-grade applications.
About SiFive
SiFive, the company selected by NASA this time, is a supplier of processor cores, AI accelerators and SoC IP. It was co-founded by Krste Asanovic, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and one of the founders of RISC-V, and two of his graduate students.
Although the company was only established in 2015, in just a few years, it has developed into the world's first customized semiconductor company based on RISC-V, and its RISC-V architecture processor has more than 100 patents.
In March of this year, it announced that it had obtained a $175 million F round of financing led by Coatue Management. The company's valuation exceeded $2.5 billion, making it the first "unicorn" in the RISC-V chip camp.
Jack Kang, SiFive's senior vice president of business development, said:
We've always said that the future of SiFive has no limits, and we're excited to see the impact we create extends far beyond our planet.

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