ISRO Develops High-Speed Microprocessors: Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Chandigarh, has developed two advanced 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201. These processors are specifically designed for space applications and mark a major milestone in India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in high-performance computing for launch vehicles.

Key Highlights

Vikram 3201

  • India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor qualified for space missions.
  • Processes 32-bit data at a time, enabling efficient computations.
  • Supports floating-point arithmetic, improving performance in complex calculations.
  • Backward compatible with Vikram 1601, which has been in use since 2009.
  • Fabricated at SCL’s 180nm CMOS semiconductor fab, reinforcing the Make in India initiative.
  • Successfully validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission.

Kalpana 3201

  • A 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor, based on IEEE 1754 Instruction Set Architecture.
  • Compatible with open-source software toolsets.
  • Tested with flight software, making it versatile for various space applications.
  • Designed for efficiency and high-speed processing, with an emphasis on simple instructions.

Additional Developments

  • ISRO and SCL have developed a Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System and a Multi-Channel Low Drop-out Regulator Integrated Circuit to support miniaturization of avionics systems.
  • An MoU was signed to develop miniaturized unsteady pressure sensors for wind tunnel applications, strengthening ISRO-SCL collaboration.
Summary/Static Details
Why in the news? ISRO Develops High-Speed Microprocessors: Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201
Microprocessors Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201
Developed by ISRO and Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh
Vikram 3201 India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor for space missions
Key Features of Vikram 3201 32-bit data processing, floating-point computation, backward compatible with Vikram 1601, fabricated at SCL’s 180nm CMOS fab
Kalpana 3201 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor based on IEEE 1754 architecture
Key Features of Kalpana 3201 Compatible with open-source software, tested with flight software, optimized for efficiency
Space Validation Vikram 3201 successfully tested in PSLV-C60 mission
Additional Developments Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System, Multi-Channel Low Drop-out Regulator IC
New Collaboration MoU signed for miniaturized unsteady pressure sensors for wind tunnel applications
Shivam

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