Vicor has announced a partnership with Spacechips, a developer of space-electronics solutions, to create a cutting-edge transponder designed for in-orbit artificial intelligence (AI) processing. The newly developed AI1 transponder is noted for its compact size, ruggedness, and radiation tolerance, all while featuring Vicor’s high-density power modules. This collaboration aims to establish new power processing standards that will enhance computing capabilities for next-generation space applications.
The push for smaller satellites equipped with advanced computational systems is reshaping power delivery requirements, particularly over the expected lifespan of five to ten years for these missions. Increasingly sophisticated onboard processors, including ultra-deep-submicron Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), demand low-voltage, high-current power solutions. Furthermore, managing thermal and radiation conditions in space adds to the complexity of system design.
In response to these challenges, Spacechips has unveiled its AI1 transponder, an onboard processor card that incorporates an Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP) AI accelerator. This innovative device is capable of delivering up to 133 tera operations per second (TOPS), facilitating real-time computing for applications such as Earth observation, in-space servicing, signals intelligence (SIGINT), and telecommunications. “Many spacecraft operators simply don’t have sufficient bandwidth in the RF spectrum to download all of the data they’ve acquired for real-time processing,” noted Dr. Rajan Bedi, CEO of Spacechips. “An alternative solution is accomplishing the processing in-orbit and simply downlink the intelligent insights.”
The demand for enhanced processing power opens up creative possibilities for applications both in space and on Earth. Currently, low-Earth-orbit observation spacecraft can only establish a direct line of sight over a specific location approximately every ten minutes. By training satellites to leverage AI algorithms to fill in these blind spots, emergency management teams could achieve faster and more informed decision-making, even when direct communication with Earth is compromised.
Incorporating Vicor’s Factorized Power Architecture (FPA) into the AI1 transponder is essential in meeting the stringent power management needs of AI-enabled computing in space. The growing variety of missions and reliance on solar power for energy supply further emphasize the importance of effective power delivery systems. The FPA design separates the functions of DC-DC conversion into independent modules, enhancing efficiency and reliability. The bus converter module (BCM) provides isolation and steps down voltage to 28V, while the pre-regulator module (PRM) ensures regulation to a voltage transformation module (VTM) that converts 28V DC to 0.8V.
Bedi highlighted the advantages of Vicor’s solution, stating that its compact and power-dense nature allows for greater efficiency, flexibility, and higher power density, particularly in high-performance computing applications. The collaboration enables telecommunications and SIGINT operators to perform real-time, onboard processing while dynamically adjusting RF frequency plans and communication standards based on current traffic requirements. Vicor’s power converter modules also feature a dual powertrain, providing built-in redundancy for fault-intolerant space applications.
“Vicor FPA delivers a much more elegant, efficient solution in a very small form factor,” Bedi commented. “The benefits of Vicor FPA are simply an order of magnitude superior to everything else on the market.” This collaboration not only represents a significant step forward in AI processing capabilities for space applications, but it also illustrates the broader shift towards smarter, more autonomous systems that can operate effectively in the challenging conditions of space.
As the demand for advanced satellite technologies continues to grow, partnerships like that of Vicor and Spacechips signal a transformative shift in how space missions will leverage AI for enhanced operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities. The integration of these technologies may pave the way for a future in which spacecraft can operate more independently and intelligently, addressing both terrestrial and extraterrestrial challenges in real-time.
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