ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-11077
Open Date: 28/01/2022 13:41 CEST
Closing Date: 25/03/2022 13:00 CEST

The present 4th generation of European space microprocessors is the GR740 quad-core LEON4-FT processor at 250 MHz clock. The target for the 5th Generation Space Microprocessor (VGSM) is at least a 10x performance improvement over GR740 at similar power consumption and flight component prices. For cost reasons a reduced version will be implemented in the frame of this de-risking activity.Beyond the VGSM high-performance stand-alone microprocessor which is the main goal, the RISC-V design developed here may also serve as embedded processor for future European SoC-FPGA devices which are currently using the proprietary ARM architecture.Compared to SPARC, which has been very successful for more than 25 years in space but is now obsolete for non-space use, RISC-V is an innovative open standard, which is quickly being adopted by many commercial applications, thus ensuring a continued supply of SW ecosystem and skilled engineers. Due to its extendibility, it is particularly suitable also for AI and Software Defined Radio application requiring massively parallel operations with reduced resolution. This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Select and tailor a suitable RISC-V IP core and associated peripherals- Implement and verify chip design in Hardware Description Language- Select ASIC technology- Define and implement the radiation hardening(-by-design) concept- Implement ASIC prototype in a Multi-Project-Wafer (MPW)- Implement evaluation board- Perform functional tests and benchmarking.

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Christophe Rene R. Seynaeve
Initiating Service: TEC-EDM
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 1-B-II-Onboard Computers / 1-C-II-Digital and Analogue Devices and Technologies / 6-D-I-Payload Tools / 23-B-II-Silicon-Based Components
Products Keywords: 2-B-1-h-Monolithic Microcircuits (including MMICs) / 2-F-1-a-Central Data Management Units (CDMU) or Satellite Management Units (SMU) / 2-F-1.1-a-General Purpose Microprocessors (ERC32, Leon 2) / 3-E-1.1-a-Processors and controllers (communication processor, data processing,…)