Background

Electronic devices in areas with high radiation levels can be susceptible to experiencing single- and multiple-bit upsets. In such cases, the circuit may continue to function as normal after this point. If no action is taken, these errors can gradually accumulate, making the circuit unusable, or even rendering it harmful.

Traditionally, the approach is either to use expensive, purpose-built, radiation-hardened components that will resist the effect of radiation, or to reduce the impact of such changes at the chip level. This is done by turning off and resetting the entire circuit or affected system.

Technology Overview

To tackle this problem, the Self-protecting Hybrid ARChitectureS (SHARCS) technology was produced, which can effectively convert commercial off-the-shelf systems into computer systems that are capable of withstanding environments subject to harsh radiation. It can be applied to circuits and systems comprising multi- and manycore systems, and creates a dependable computer architecture that can tolerate faults through masking and healing. Simply put, the system continues to function following an event upset, and the system gets to work on healing the problem.

In assessing the current state-of-the-art, the team of researchers identified a processing-reliability gap between highly reliable and high-performing systems (Figure 1) . Typically, components that were reliable and robust had a low level of performance in comparison to more modern, high-performing systems. This was because the technology is many decades older. Newer components tended to be high-performing, but were far more susceptible to induced faults.

The SHARCS technology increases the robustness and resilience of otherwise susceptible components, to ensure they’re both high-performance, invulnerable to threats, and cost-efficient. Furthermore, the SHARCS technology replicates trusted components, using them in an alternating fashion, to equip the operating system with what is needed to fight radiation-induced faults – also known as latch-ups – in a flexible and adaptable manner.

(Figure 2)

Benefits

(Figure 3)

Applications

We are currently working on a prototype for space-enabled data handling and control systems, targeting new space applications, which require autonomy, dependability, flexibility, and high processing power.

This technology can also be used in any other computer systems that have to operate in high-radiation environments, demanding data processing algorithms at high-dependability levels (image processing or compression, navigation, command and control), including:

nuclear medicine
nuclear waste management
refurbishing of nuclear micro-reactors
high-energy physics infrastructure (accelerators, stellarators, etc.)

Opportunity

We are seeking users to test technology.

SHARCS - Self-protecting Hybrid Architectures

Patents

IP Status

Seeking