Validation of FDIR Strategy for Spaceborne SRAM-based FPGAs Using Proton Radiation Testing

This paper presents a novel stream processor architecture for SRAM-based FPGAs that is specifically targeted at payload data processing and which employs innovative Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) mechanisms to cope with failures caused by radiation effects. As part of this FDIR strategy, an availability analysis method is developed that is able to predict the steady state availability of a stream processor in a particular radiation environment. By means of an accelerated proton irradiation test campaign, both the FDIR framework and the availability analysis method are validated. First, it is demonstrated that the FDIR hardware and software components are capable to detect and recover from failures in a real radiation environment. Secondly, it is proven that the availability prediction provides accurate results. The real Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) value measured during the beam test differs from the prediction by not more than 15.4% while the steady state availability by only 0.9%.