PULSAR LITE EDGE COMPUTING MODULE
→ 20 TOPS under 2W on dedicated AI cores
→ Configurable EDAC scheme up to rad-hard level protection to SEEs
→ Innovative AI-driven circuitry for power-saving and extended device lifespan
→ 6 unique computing levels for optimal energy utilisation
→ Reliable and consistent with unlimited on-orbit reconfiguration
→ Built from parts that are flight-proven, radiation tolerant and compliant to ECSS/NTSS.
- Pulsar Lite is the perfect artificial intelligence (AI) data processing unit for small platforms such as rovers, copters, 1U, 2U and 3U satellites. It is lightweight and consumes up to 2W for an effective 20 TOPS peak AI performance.
- It relies on flight-heritage NASA and ESA-qualified dual-core ARM Cortex processor operating either as individual dual cores or in lock-step mode to protect the system from transient errors, featuring additional built-in self-tests. A particularity of this architecture stems from its integrated floating-point unit (FPU) useful for any double-precision arithmetic.
- All memories (caches, SRAM and DDR4) are protected by ECC schemes capable of detecting double bit errors and correcting single bit errors. In addition, the device features a special 16Mb memory bank with a fast Error Detection and Correction (EDAC) algorithm providing lower power, rad-hard level protection of critical data such as ML weights, bootup parameters, ECC values, sensor calibration parameters and more.
- This smart module enables inferencing of larger neural networks to meet the demand of computationally intensive applications and increased real-time autonomy for space exploration missions and survivability.
Pulsar Lite (Engineering Model) is powered through USB-C and has all the interfaces listed in the table below, including Ethernet and USB 2.0. A second 1GigE Ethernet port can be added on request.
Pulsar Lite (Flight Model) is powered through PC104 and has optional high-speed interfaces (Ethernet and USB 2.0). This is to reduce cost if customers do not require these connections. The device pictured on this page is the default Pulsar Lite Flight Model. The AICRAFT team will work with the satellite integrator to define the pin allocation of the PC104 connector and adjust the PCB design accordingly.
Lead time: 3 months, no minimum order quantity.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Computing performance |
|
Processor |
Dual-core ARM Cortex, 32-bit operations |
ML co-processor |
20 TOPS effective peak performance |
RAM |
512 MB DDR4 SDRAM with ECC (up to 2 GB) |
Storage |
64 GB SLC NAND with ECC (up to 512 GB)16 Mb rad-hard-equivalent memory with EDAC |
Interfaces |
|
PC104 |
4x UART, 4x I2C, 4x SPI |
CAN2.0 |
2x 1 Mbps |
Ethernet |
10/100/1000 Mbps (optional) |
USB 2.0 |
480 Mbps (optional) |
Software |
|
Operating system |
Linux |
ML compiler |
All common frameworks |
Sensors |
|
Vibrations |
3-axis lateral and 3-axis longitudinal |
Temperature |
Device, processor, co-processor |
Power monitors |
Device (total power), processor, co-processor |
Other properties |
|
Input voltages |
3.3VDC and 5VDC (via PC104) |
Power consumption |
< 2W |
Mass |
150g |
Dimensions (L x W x H) |
95mm x 90mm x 21mm |
Operating temperature |
-40⁰C to +105⁰C |
Storage temperature |
-55⁰C to +125⁰C |