Microsemi Unveils FGPA Development Kit for Space Designers

By CIOReview | Monday, August 24, 2015

ALISO VIJEO, CA: Microsemi Corporation–a provider of semiconductors and system solutions for communications, defense and security and industrial markets– announces a field programmable gate array (FGPA) development kit for high bandwidth space applications.

The latest solution, RTG4 FPGA, is an evaluation and development platform for applications such as data transmission, serial connectivity, bus interface and high speed designs using Microsemi’s RTG4 high-speed signal processing radiation tolerant FGPA device aiding space designers.

The development kit provides necessary reference to evaluate and adopt RTG4 technology without the need to build a test board and assemble the device on the board. It is suitable for evaluating and designing remote sensing space payloads, radar and imaging, and spectrometry in civilian, scientific and commercial applications. Other applications include mobile satellite services (MSS) communication satellites, as well as high altitude aviation, medical electronics and civilian nuclear power plant control.

“ The extensive logic, memory, DSP blocks and IO capabilities of RTG4 FPGA with inherent radiation tolerance and inbuilt configuration memory makes the device befitting for spacecraft on-board applications.” remarks Prof. Steve Parked, MD of STAR-Dundee Senior analyst and Director of space studies of Teal Group consulting firm, Marco Caceres envisages 25 percent growth in number of new spacecraft of 50kg mass or larger carrying sophisticated payload electronics, and handling on-board data processing to maximize data acquisition while dealing with lesser downlink bandwidth.

"Our RTG4 Development Kit provides customers ease of design for space applications, which we expect to drive design activity as we provide a standard platform showcasing RTG4 capabilities, intellectual property (IP) performance, as well as interoperability with Microsemi's industry-leading portfolio of space solutions," says Minh Nguyen, Senior Marketing Manager, Space and Aviation, Microsemi. "In addition to Microsemi's commitment to the space industry as the leading supplier of FPGAs for applications requiring mitigation of radiation effects, this new development kit affirms our dedication to providing evaluation and development solutions to help designers successfully leverage our latest technologies."