New microcontroller device and development board available
A new microcontroller device, for use with embedded space applications (called GR716) has been developed as part of a TDE activity with Aeroflex Gaisler AB, Sweden.
The activity developed a a radiation-tolerant LEON3 SPARC V8 processor. The mixed signal microcontroller for embedded space applications device ASIC,(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) had to be based around the LEON processor core, which is being used in the development of the ESA next generation of radiation-hardened multi-core processor devices for space.
The activity developed three boards which end users can choose to implement depending on the level of control they want, or to expand the processor’s uses.
The GR716 software evaluation board is a small versatile board that end users can use to rapidly integrate the microcontroller into their own systems since it’s so small and has standard connectors.
The hardware engineering board is a more comprehensive board for integrating into any space system. This board is based upon stackable headers used in nano and cube satellites and gives the end user full control of the device.
Finally, the interface development board is for end users still in the process of developing boards. These enable users to develop and build complete systems and communication interfaces without having their own system ready. It will also allow end users to mount multiple GR716 boards in dedicated expansion slots. The expansion slots can easily be used to add user-defined functions, such as more memory or an interface to an external instrument.
Eventually, a fourth board will also be available with the European Space Agency’s Compact Reconfigurable Avionics (CoRA) platform. CORA provides end users with a development platform that has a short path to flight. In other words, the development board design will be available to end users and it will be possible to replace commercial components on the board for flight components according to mission needs.
T701-317ED closed in September 2020.