Microchip’s RT PolarFire FPGA Receives QML Class Q Qualification, Streamlining Integration into Space Flight Systems

Microchip Technology, a leading provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, has announced that its RT PolarFire FPGA has achieved Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) Class Q qualification. This certification, designated by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), positions the RT PolarFire FPGA as a trusted and readily accepted product in space program designs.

QML Class Q qualification is considered the gold standard in entry-level qualification, making it easier for designers to integrate the RT PolarFire FPGA into their space flight systems. By utilizing QML-qualified products, customers can streamline their design process, ensuring standardized performance and quality requirements governed by the DLA.

The RT PolarFire FPGA offers expanded logic density and high performance, resulting in significant improvements in signal processing throughput. Unlike SRAM-based FPGA alternatives, these devices do not exhibit any configuration Single-Event Upsets (SEUs) in radiation, eliminating the need for mitigation and reducing engineering expenses and Bill of Materials (BOM) costs.

Shakeel Peera, Vice President of Marketing for Microchip’s FPGA business unit, emphasized that the RT PolarFire FPGA provides higher levels of density and performance than any other product in their FPGA portfolio. This milestone qualification instills confidence in customers when designing these devices into their spaceflight systems.

To achieve QML Class Q qualification, the RT PolarFire FPGA underwent rigorous assessments to determine its ability to withstand the harsh conditions found in defense and space operations. The qualification demonstrates the device’s ability to support systems that require the highest level of component quality. Furthermore, it paves the way for an eventual QML Class V qualification, showcasing the continued reliability of RT PolarFire FPGAs in space applications.

Microchip Technology has a rich heritage of powering space flight missions for over 60 years. Their comprehensive space product portfolio includes radiation-hardened and RT solutions such as microcontrollers (MCUs), microprocessors (MPUs), FPGAs, memories, communication interfaces, frequency and timing solutions, mixed-signal ICs, custom power supplies, diodes, transistors, RF components, and more.

The RT PolarFire FPGA family, with its low power consumption and high computing and connectivity throughput, meets the demanding performance requirements of modern space missions. These FPGAs enable on-orbit data processing systems to operate reliably without excessive heat generation in the harsh radiation environment of space. They offer a unique combination of Logic Elements (LEs), embedded SRAM, DSP blocks, and 12.7 Gbps transceiver lanes, enabling higher resolution imaging, precise scientific measurements, and more channels for multi-spectral and hyper-spectral imaging.

The QML Class Q qualified RT PolarFire FPGA is available now in production quantities, allowing manufacturers to integrate these devices into their next-generation space flight systems. Design work can commence using Microchip’s Libero® SoC Design Suite, version 2021.3 or newer, with support from development boards and radiation data.

Microchip Technology continues to provide high-quality and reliable solutions, empowering the advancement of space exploration and satellite technology. With the QML Class Q qualification, the RT PolarFire FPGA solidifies its position as a trusted choice for space program designs, offering improved performance, reduced costs, and enhanced reliability.