ISRO and IIT Madras jointly develop indigenous semiconductor chip for space-based applications - The Indian Express

Abstract

ISRO and IIT Madras have jointly announced the successful development of an indigenous semiconductor chip designed specifically for space-based applications. This strategic collaboration aims to significantly advance India's self-reliance in critical aerospace technology and reduce dependence on foreign hardware. The new chip is engineered to meet the stringent requirements of space environments, likely incorporating radiation-hardened features necessary for reliable satellite operation.

Report

Structured Report: Indigenous Space Chip Development

Key Highlights

• Joint Initiative: The chip was developed through a high-profile collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
• Indigenous Development: The primary focus is on creating a domestically manufactured solution to ensure sovereignty and avoid reliance on international supply chains for mission-critical space components.
• Application Focus: The semiconductor chip is explicitly designed for deployment in various space platforms, including satellites and launch vehicle systems.
• Strategic Goal: This achievement strongly supports India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative within the crucial space technology sector.

Technical Details

• Architecture (Inferred): Given the context of current Indian semiconductor research and the source category (RISC-V Research), the chip is highly likely based on the open-source RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture (ISA).
• Core Requirement: The device must inherently be radiation-hardened (rad-hard), utilizing specialized fabrication or design techniques (like Triple Modular Redundancy or Error Correction Codes) to protect against single-event upsets (SEUs) and total ionizing dose (TID) effects prevalent in orbit.
• Functionality (Inferred): The chip likely serves as a dedicated onboard processor, a crucial controller, or a specific data handling unit vital for satellite command and control functions.

Implications

• Technological Sovereignty: This development drastically reduces India's vulnerability to technology denial regimes or supply chain disruptions for essential space hardware, establishing domestic competence in designing and fabricating specialized processors.
• Validation of RISC-V in Aerospace: If the chip is confirmed to use RISC-V, it serves as a powerful validation of the open-source ISA's maturity and reliability for use in highly demanding, mission-critical space and defense applications globally.
• Boost to Domestic Ecosystem: The successful collaboration enhances the synergy between India's premier research institutions (IITs) and strategic organizations (ISRO), fostering growth in the domestic semiconductor design and verification ecosystem.
• Cost Efficiency: Indigenous development potentially leads to long-term cost savings compared to the procurement of expensive, specialized rad-hard components from international vendors.