Breker Verification Systems and Frontgrade Gaisler Collaborate on High-Reliability RISC-V Fault Tolerant Processor Core - Business Wire

Abstract

Breker Verification Systems and Frontgrade Gaisler have partnered to develop a high-reliability, fault-tolerant RISC-V processor core. This collaboration leverages Breker's advanced verification automation tools to rigorously test the core's resilience against failure. The initiative is aimed at accelerating the adoption of robust RISC-V computing solutions in critical environments like aerospace and defense.

Report

Key Highlights

• Strategic Collaboration: Breker Verification Systems (specializing in verification automation) partnered with Frontgrade Gaisler (renowned for high-reliability space processors, formerly known for LEON/SPARC cores).
• Product Focus: Development of a brand new, high-reliability, fault-tolerant processor core based on the RISC-V architecture.
• Goal: To ensure the core meets the stringent reliability and safety standards required for mission-critical applications.
• Breker's Role: Providing advanced functional and safety verification techniques to rigorously validate the fault tolerance mechanisms of the new core.

Technical Details

• Architecture Base: The project centers on the open standard RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), signifying a shift towards open-source designs in reliability-critical systems.
• Key Feature: The core integrates "Fault Tolerant" design features, suggesting the use of techniques such as Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) or Error Detection and Correction (EDAC) to maintain operational integrity in harsh environments.
• Methodology: The partnership emphasizes advanced verification, likely employing Breker’s Portable Stimulus Standard (PSS) or UVM (Universal Verification Methodology) tools to create comprehensive test scenarios for verifying error handling and recovery mechanisms.

Implications

• RISC-V Expansion: This collaboration significantly validates RISC-V's viability in the most demanding markets, including aerospace, defense, and high-end industrial systems, which traditionally relied on proprietary architectures like SPARC or specialized microcontrollers.
• High-Reliability Ecosystem: The successful verification of a fault-tolerant RISC-V core will pave the way for a broader ecosystem of reliable, safety-certified components based on the open standard.
• Verification as a Critical Path: The involvement of a dedicated verification systems company highlights that achieving high reliability in hardware requires advanced, automated verification techniques, moving beyond manual testing to ensure resilience against faults and radiation effects.