The Next Generation SC-7 RISC Spaceflight Computer

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) recently undertook a search for the microprocessor for the next generation SwRI spaceflight processor. The driving selection criteria were versatility, performance, radiation characteristics, and availability of development tools. The microprocessor selected was the RH320C30 from Texas Instruments, a silicon-on-insulator implementation of the popular TMS320C30. Although the TMS320C30 is primarily classified as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), the C30's open RISC design makes it ideal for use as a general-purpose computer core. A Harvard architecture, dual independent 32-bit data buses, instruction pipelining, internal RAM, and on-chip 110 peripherals make the C30 easy to use in embedded applications. The C30 will soon be available in the radiation hard SIMOX process. With its chip power requirement of approximately one watt, a total radiation dose capability of 1M Rad, single-event latchup-free operation and very low single event upset rate, the C30 incorporates all the requirements needed for a radiation hardened spacecraft computer design. Southwest Research Institute has used the C30 as the core CPU for its SC-7 Spacecraft Computer design. This new design is presented along with the power, speed, and other parametric data measured for the computer.