Low-overhead Fault Detection via Efficient Use of FPGA Hard Blocks

Abstract

Modern space systems host increasingly complex payloads in shrinking spacecraft sizes. The data-intensive nature of communication payloads requires sophisticated data handling, where Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) play a crucial role. FPGAs, configurable in software, offer custom circuit advantages without high lead times and costs. In the space environment, radiation poses a significant threat to semiconductor devices. The project focuses on improving an existing signal decoder, enhancing fault detection by a duplication with compare approach. Experimental validation under proton radiation demonstrated improved fault detection latency and localization. By optimizing the quantization of the decoding algorithm, the proposed mechanism increased resource utilization much less than typical, and indicated potential for fault detection with minimal overhead.