Putting Power First - Powering Space 2.0
With Paul Leys
From a technology perspective, we have come a long way since the first lunar missions. Space is being commercialised in ways the pioneers could have only imagined. There are now almost 10,000 satellites in orbit around earth. Tourism may be the next frontier.
The amount of processing power in an average low earth orbit (LEO) satellite is no doubt far more than that available during the moon landings. Of course, satellites don’t have the same legions of brilliant minds on hand to oversee every action, but that’s because they no longer need them. Processors are more capable of handling complex operations in real time, and we’re now seeing AI and Machine Learning being deployed in satellites, too.
The number of LEO satellites in operation is increasing, in most part to meet the demand for global communications. But there is also talk of using the hostile environment of space to host other types of technology, such as data centres. That may not be entirely science fiction. With 5G coverage now available using LEOs, the communication activity and bandwidth in the area between the earth’s surface and the fringe of the Van Allen radiation belt is increasing rapidly.
While the harsh environment means most satellites have finite lifetimes, their design is very different to a capsule intended to sustain organic life. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t subject to the hazards of space. Radiation-tolerant components are a prerequisite for anything being launched into orbit.
The Space-Grade AMD Versal™ XQR adaptive system-on-chip (SoC) family of products is one example of how far integrated circuits have come in a short time. They have been designed for Space 2.0 applications. The AMD VersalTM AI Core Series is geared for applications such as high-speed broadband communications, hyperspectral imaging, and synthetic aperture radar, as well as GPS/GNSS, while the AI Edge’s updated AI engines make it great for AI/ML task such as Real-time Telemetry Anomaly Detection. The Versal XQR AI Core and AI Edge devices can withstand the rigors of space in missions that last up to seven years.
Some key AMD Versal™ XQR device features include:
| Feature | Versal AI Core XQR Series | Versal AI Edge XQR Series |
|---|---|---|
| AI Engine Tiles | 400 | 34 |
| DSP Engines | 1,968 | 464 |
| Programmable Logic LUTs | 899,840 | 150,272 |
| Programmable Logic Memory | 191 Mb | 86Mb |
| PCI Express | 4 x Gen4x8 | 1x Gen4x8 |
| Multi-rate Ethernet MAC | 4 | 1 |
| Application Processing Units | Dual-core Arm® Cortex®-A72 | |
| Real-Time Processing Units | Dual-core Arm Cortex-R5F | |
| Gigabit Transceivers | Ethernet (x2), UART (x2), CAN-FD (x2), USB 2.0 (x1), SPI (x2), I2C (x2) | |
| Processor Memory | 256 KB On-Chip Memory with ECC | |
All this compute capability requires an efficient and robust power supply ready for space. Depending on the mission profile, the resources required to support a heavily loaded application could exceed 100A for the largest device in Versal AI Core XQR Series. These power requirements must be met with capable components able to maintain strict voltage regulation limits, while also being radiation-tolerant.
The cost of the power supply solution in an application like an LEO satellite can easily represent as much as 20% of the total BoM. What’s more, the choice of supplier for radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened power components is limited.
This is where solutions like the Renesas Radiation Hardened reference designs are needed. The ISLVERSALDEMO2 solution is designed for the Versal AI Core, while the ISLVERSALDEMO3Z targets the Versal AI Edge. Both designs supply the core and auxiliary rails with ample power to ensure full utilization of the AMD Versal™ Adaptive SoCs with power supply sequencing to ensure a robust power management system.
ISLVERSALDEMO2Z: AI Core Power Reference Design
The main parts for the 100 A/0.8 V rail are the ISL73847SEH PWM controller, the ISL73041SEH GaN FET driver, and the ISL70020SEH GaN FET. Another key component in the overall solution is the ISL70321SEH power supply sequencer. Let’s take a closer look at each of these critical devices.
The ISL73847 PWM controller is a synchronous buck controller that supports single or dual phase operation. It uses current mode modulation and remote voltage sensing to simplify compensation for changes in the load. Its wide input voltage range (4.5 V to 19 V) provides flexibility to support various power architectures.
The ISL73041SEH half-bridge GaN FET driver takes a PWM input and drives a low rDS(ON) GaN FET, for DC/DC switching regulators. The gate drive voltage is programmable, and it features a high-side bootstrap switch and strong gate drive current. It can interface directly with the ISL73847, making an efficient point-of-load solution for low voltage/high current FPGAs.
The ISL70020SEH GaN FET has a typical on-resistance of 3.5 mΩ and ultra-low total gate charge of 19 nC. It is offered in an ultra-small hermetically-sealed surface mount package, with extended operating temperature range and, of course, screened to radiation-hardened standards.
ISLVERSALDEMO2 from Renesas
ISLVERSALDEMO3Z: AI Edge Power Reference Design
The main parts for the 50 A/0.8 V rail are the ISL73849M PWM controller with PMBus and the ISL71441M GaN FET driver. It also uses the ISL70020SEH GaN FET.
The ISL73849M PWM controller is a synchronous buck controller that supports single or dual phase operation with a PMBus digital interface. Just like the ISL73847SEH, it has the same input voltage range and uses current mode modulation and remote voltage sensing to simplify compensation for changes in the load. It features a VREF Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) which allows you to change the voltage reference on-the-fly between 0.2 V and 1.2 V. It also has an integrated 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) that allows you to get telemetry information from the power supply.
Summary
To help OEMs get to market faster, Renesas has developed complete power management reference designs for the AMD Versal™ AI Core and AI Edge XQR devices targeting Space 2.0 applications. Get in touch with Avnet Silica’s power specialists to find out more, or to request access to the reference design.
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