Microchip Technology announces the SAMD21RT, a 32-bit radiation-tolerant (RT) microcontroller based on the Arm® Cortex®-M0+ with a 64-pin ceramic and plastic package featuring 128 KB of Flash and 16 KB of SRAM.
The SAMD21RT, designed for space-constrained applications where size and weight are paramount, comes in a small package measuring only
10 mm × 10 mm. Operating at frequencies up to 48 MHz, the SAMD21RT delivers high performance in harsh environments. The device integrates analog functions such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with up to 20 channels, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and analog comparators.
The SAMD21RT device is based on Microchip's existing SAMD21 family of microcontrollers, widely used in the industrial and automotive markets. It is also based on commercially available devices, thus significantly simplifying the design process by moving to a radiation-tolerant device with a compatible pin configuration. Microchip offers a comprehensive solution for space applications, enabling the design of many devices around the SAMD21RT microcontroller, such as FPGAs, discrete and power devices, memory products, communication interfaces, and oscillators, providing a wide range of options and various qualification levels.
To withstand harsh environments with radiation and extreme temperatures, the SAMD21RT can operate under temperatures from −40°C to 125°C and provide a high level of radiation tolerance as it withstands a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of up to 50 krad and a Single Event Latch-up (SEL) immunity of up to 78 MeV.cm²/mg.
“The advantage of working with Microchip is that we have the experience, knowledge, and capability to handle the design and testing of our radiation-tolerant and radiation-resistant devices,” said Bob Vampola, vice president of Microchip’s aerospace and defense business unit. “We continue to develop new technologies such as Ethernet, AI, and ML (machine learning), which have evolved in the commercial and industrial markets, and introduce enhancements to ensure their radiation performance meets the needs of space missions. We also continue to increase computing performance and the level of integration of new technologies into smaller packages, thereby reducing weight and size.”.
The low-power SAMD21RT includes sleep and standby modes, as well as low-power peripherals. It also features other peripherals, such as a 12-channel DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller), a 12-channel event system, several timers and counters for control (TCC), a 32-bit real-time counter (RTC), a supervisory timer, and a USB 2.0 interface. Communication options include serial (SERCOM), I2C, SPI, and LIN.
Tens of thousands of Microchip devices are already in orbit, making it a vital part of space exploration history and essential to current and future missions. Its products are being sent to the Moon as part of the Artemis program and are contributing to the success of the Space Launch System, Orion Spacecraft, Lunar Gateway, Lunar Lander, and next-generation spacesuits. For more information on Microchip's contributions to space, visit the company's space applications page.
Development Tools
The SAMD21RT 32-bit microcontroller is supported by the SAM D21 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit, the MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) , and the MPLAB PICkit™ 5 integrated debugger/programmer.
Samples of the SAMD21RT 32-bit microcontroller are already available .
