The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and ISRO have collaborated to develop an indigenous microprocessor for space missions. The microprocessor can be used in command and control systems and other mission-critical applications in space.
The SHAKTI microprocessor project is being spearheaded by IIT Madras Director, V Kamakoti, at the Prathap Subrahmanyam Centre for Digital Intelligence and Secure Hardware Architecture (PSCDISHA) of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
SHAKTI Microprocessor and RISC-V Technology
The SHAKTI class of systems is built using RISC-V, an open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) that enables the development of custom processors.
The project is being funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the 'Digital India RISC-V' (DIRV) initiative.The initiative is aimed at promoting the indigenous development of microprocessors that provide best-in-class security and transparency for users adopting RISC-V technology.
According to IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, the Indigenous RISC-V Controller for Space Applications (IRIS) chip was designed based on the SHAKTI processor as the basis. "This chip can be used in a wide range of applications, from IoT devices to computing systems for strategic requirements. The project is a significant step towards indigenizing semiconductor technology used by ISRO in its command and control systems, consistent with India's vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in space technology," he said.
Development of the Indigenous Microprocessor
The ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) in Thiruvananthapuram designed a 64-bit RISC-V-based controller and collaborated with IIT Madras to finalize specifications and design the semiconductor chip. The chip design was formulated to meet the functional and computational requirements of the current sensors and systems used in ISRO missions.
For reliability, fault-tolerant internal memory was designed around the SHAKTI core. Further, custom functional and peripheral interface modules, such as CORDIC, WATCHDOG Timers, and high-speed serial buses, were added—facilities that are generally used in space systems.
The microprocessor also supports expandability provisions for future space missions, with diverse boot modes and hybrid memory/device extension interfaces. After strict software and hardware testing, the final design was optimized for high reliability and high performance.
A Milestone in India's Semiconductor Ecosystem
The feat, Kamakoti asserted, is the third SHAKTI chip successfully produced at SCL Chandigarh and tested at IIT Madras, following RIMO in 2018 and MOUSHIK in 2020. "That chip design, fabrication, packaging, motherboard design, assembly, software development, and booting were all possible within India is a testament to the country's robust semiconductor ecosystem and expertise," he reiterated.
ISRO's Future Plans for the Microprocessor
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan was optimistic about the high-performance controller, asserting that it has been specifically designed to meet ISRO's mission requirements. "We plan to conduct a flight test with this controller soon, and its performance shall be thoroughly tested in real conditions," he further added.
This feat is a great leap in India's indigenous development in semiconductor technology, opening the way for indigenous developments in space applications.
