De-RISC: the First RISC-V Space-Grade Platform for Safety-Critical Systems

Abstract

The increasing needs for performance in the space domain for highly autonomous systems calls for more powerful space MPSoCs and appropriate hypervisors to master them. These platforms must adhere to strict reliability, verifiability and validation requirements since spacecraft for deep space missions are exposed to a harsh environment. Systems must undergo screening and tests against standards for electronic components and software. Unfortunately, currently available space-grade processor components do not meet requirements related to safety that are becoming increasingly important in space applications. This paper presents the De-RISC platform, consisting of Cobham Gaisler’s RISC-V based SoC, and fentISS’ XtratuM Next Generation hypervisor. The platform implements the open RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture, and leverages space SoC IP by Cobham Gaisler, space hypervisor technology by fentISS, multicore interference management solutions by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and end user experience and requirement guidance by Thales Research and Technology. At its current state, the platform is already complete and integrated, and starting its validation phase prior to reaching commercial maturity by early 2022. In this paper, we provide details of the platform and some preliminary evidence of its operation.