Accelerated AI inferencing for space applications with new edge adaptive SoC

AMD is expanding its radiation-tolerant, space-grade adaptive compute solutions with the announcement of the Versal AI Edge XQRVE2302, the second device in the Versal adaptive SoC portfolio to be qualified for space flight.

The device is the first time the company has offered an adaptive SoC for space applications in a small form-factor (23mm x 23mm) package. The device has a 75% smaller board area and power savings relative to the existing Versal AI Core XQRVC1902.

The device is one of the first Versal devices to incorporate enhanced AMD AI Engine (AIE) technology, known as AIE-ML, which has been optimised for ML applications by providing extended support for data types prevalent in ML inferencing (INT4 and BFLOAT16) and superior performance over the original AIE for ML inference focused applications. Developers can convert raw sensor data into useful information, making the device excellent for anomaly and image detection applications.

In contrast to other radiation-tolerant FPGAs, XQR Versal adaptive SoCs support unlimited reprogramming during development and after deployment, including in-flight in the harsh radiation environment of space. The security features of the Versal Adaptive SoC help prevent tampering and unwanted configuration changes. This supports satellite operators to safely change processing algorithms after a satellite has been launched, permitting flexibility in remote sensing and communications applications.

The company and independent organisations have tested the radiation tolerance of the XQR Versal SoC devices and have been determined to be capable of supporting missions from low-earth orbit to geosynchronous earth orbit and beyond.

Commercial pre-production devices are available for interested customers.