Radiation Tolerant Power Converter Design for Space Applications
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Date
2022-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Radiation and extreme temperature are the main inhibitors for the use of
electronic devices in space applications. Radiation challenges the normal and stable
operation of power converters, used as power supply for onboard systems in satellites
and spacecrafts. In this circumstance, special design approaches known as radiation
hardening or radiation tolerant designs are employed. FPGAs are beneficial for
developing low-cost, high-speed embedded digital controllers for power converters,
but their components are highly susceptible to radiation-induced faults. In safety and
mission-critical systems, like space systems, radiation-induced faults are a major
concern. Majority of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) FPGAs are not developed to
function in high radiation environments, with the exception of a handful of circuits
that are radiation–hardened at the manufacturing process level at a very high cost
overhead, making them less appealing from a performance and economic standpoint.
Design-based techniques are another option for reaching the necessary level of
reliability in a system design. This work investigates and designs a novel FPGA-based
radiation-tolerant digital controller for DC-DC converters, with applications in space.
The controller's radiation-induced failure modes were analyzed in order to develop a
mitigation strategy, which included identifying the error modes and determining how
existing mitigation approaches could be improved. For FPGA implementation and
optimization of the radiation tolerant digital controller, a model-based design approach
is presented. To validate the recommended solution strategies, fault injection
campaigns are employed.