The SAMV71 microcontrollers approved for automotive use, the radiation-tolerant SAMV71Q21RT and the radiation-resistant SAMRH71, incorporate the well-known Arm® Cortex®-M7 System on Chip (SoC), which allows for increased integration, reduced costs and increased performance in space systems.
The SAMV71Q21RT and SAMRH71 enable software developers to begin using the SAMV71 before resorting to a space-grade component, significantly reducing development time and costs. Both devices can utilize the full suite of SAMV71 software development tools, as they share the same ecosystem, including software libraries, the Board Support Package (BSP), and the first level of operating system adaptation. Once preliminary development on the commercial device is complete, all software development can be easily swapped to a radiation-tolerant or radiation-resistant version in a high-reliability plastic package or a space-grade ceramic package. The radiation-tolerant SAMV71Q21RT microcontroller leverages all the masks of the commercial device and offers pin compatibility, enabling a seamless transition to space-grade certified devices.
The radiation-resistant performance of the SAMV71Q21RT is ideal for new space applications such as low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and robotics, while the SAMRH71 offers radiation-resistant performance tailored to more critical subsystems such as gyroscopes and star-tracking equipment. The radiation-tolerant SAMV71Q21RT ensures a cumulative TID of 30 Krad(Si) with latch-up immunity and is non-destructive to heavy ions. Both devices are completely immune to single-event latch-up (SEL) up to 62 MeV.cm²/mg.
The radiation-resistant SAMRH71 microcontroller is specifically designed for deep-space applications with the following performance objectives:
• Cumulative TID greater than 100 Krad (Si)
• No single-event Linear Energy Transfer (LET) up to 20 MeV.cm²/mg, without system mitigation
• Designed to prevent Single Event Functional Interrupts (SEFI), thus protecting the integrity of all memories
The SAMV71Q21RT and SAMRH71, based on the Arm Cortex-M7 core, offer high-performance, low-power operation for extended operational life in aerospace applications. To provide protection against radiation and manage system mitigation, the device architecture includes fault management and data integrity features such as Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory, an Integrity Check Monitor (ICM), and a Memory Protection Unit (MPU). The SAMV71Q21RT and SAMRH71 also feature CAN FD and Ethernet AVB/TSN capabilities to accommodate evolving connectivity requirements in space systems. To further support deep-space applications, the SAMRH71 includes dedicated SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553 interfaces for data control and management at speeds up to 200 Mbit/s.
Developers can use the ATSAMV71-XULT evaluation board to streamline the design process and accelerate time to market. The devices are supported by the Atmel Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for software development, debugging, and libraries. Both devices will also be supported by MPLAB® Harmony version 3.0 by mid-2019.
The SAMRH71 in CQFP256 ceramic packaging is already available as a sample, while the SAMV71Q21RT is now available for volume production in four versions:
• SAMV71Q21RT-DHB-E in QFP144 ceramic packaging for prototypes
• SAMV71Q21RT-DHB-MQ in space-grade QFP144 ceramic packaging, equivalent to QMLQ
• SAMV71Q21RT-DHB-SV in space-grade QFP144 ceramic packaging, equivalent to QMLV
• SAMV71Q21RT-DHB-MQ in QFP144 plastic packaging with AQEC high reliability approval
