Single Board Computer features 3 PowerPC 750FX processors.
Press Release Summary:
The SCS750 radiation-hardened single board computer features triple modular redundancy and Reed-Solomon error mitigation for memory. Designed specifically for space applications, computer operates at 800 MHz, provides 1800 MIPS, and offers cPCI standard interface, 32 KB L1 cache and 512 KB L2 cache with ECC, 256 Mbytes of SDRAM and 32 Mbytes of FLASH Memory.
Original Press Release:
Maxwell Introduces Availability of Engineering Grade Boards for Its New SCS750 Super Computer for Space
Space-Qualified Single Board Computer has up to 1000 Times the Processing Power and 600 Times Better Upset Reliability than Existing Rad-Hard SBCs for Space and Military Applications
SAN DIEGO, CA - Maxwell Technologies, Inc. today announced the availability of the prototype engineering module (PEM) for its SCS750 radiation-hardened single board computer designed specifically for the high reliability space and military markets. The PEM, now available to order, will be the same 6U cPCI form factor as the flight board and include all of the same functionality, with the main exception of using commercial, unscreened components.
"Having the advantage of being the first and only space-qualified single board computer with processing speeds this high made available to the space and military markets, the SCS750 represents a challenge to design engineers to break free from the paradigms that have limited the industry with low processing power," stated Rich Balanson, President and CEO of Maxwell Technologies. "The SCS750 is also a milestone product in our continuing line of leading-edge space technologies that are driven by our product strategy of guaranteed performance, guaranteed radiation tolerance, and guaranteed life-of-the-application availability," Balanson continued.
The SCS750 is designed specifically for space applications using triple modular redundancy (TMR) for its processors and Reed-Solomon error mitigation for memory, providing unprecedented upset tolerance for the entire board of one uncorrectable upset every 12,000 years-greater than 600 times that of their closest competitor. Featuring the latest technology IBM PowerPC 750FX processors and advanced SDRAM and FLASH memory allows the SCS750 to operate at 800 MHz, providing 1800 MIPS. It features a cPCI standard interface, 32 KB L1 cache and 512 KB L2 cache with ECC, 256 Mbytes of SDRAM and 32 Mbytes of FLASH Memory. Also incorporated into the SCS750 are Maxwell's own components in their patented Rad-Pak® and Rad-Stak(TM) packaging technology.
"This next generation super computer for space will enable future designs to substantially increase onboard data processing, mission planning and critical decision making," states Chad Thibodeau, Product Manager for Maxwell Technologies. "The SCS750 demonstrates our commitment to providing the space market the highest performance and highest reliability single board computers which can result in direct savings of communication bandwidth, reduction in overall power usage and the ability to leverage the advancements of commercial computing" Thibodeau continues.
At the heart of the SCS750 are three PowerPC 750FX silicon-on-insulator processors operating in complete lockstep and fully synchronized. Because these processors have 512KB of on-chip L2 cache, larger programs can be run directly from the processor resulting in more efficient code execution-up to 1000 times that of existing rad-hard processors. VXWorks, a common development platform, is implemented as the main operating system. Power consumption is software-selectable within a range of between 5 and 20 watts.
Maxwell Technologies manufactures and markets high-reliability power and computing components and systems and automated test instruments. The company's microelectronic products include power modules, integrated circuits and single board computers that combine commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components and Maxwell's proprietary radiation mitigation technology to provide optimal performance and reliability in aerospace, military and other applications. Maxwell's PowerCache(TM) ultracapacitors are high-density energy storage cells that deliver bursts of high power on demand in applications such as automotive electrical systems and power trains, wireless communications and consumer and industrial electronic devices. The company's instrument products include automated accelerated reliability test systems (AARTS) for RF and photonic components.
