The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) based in Chandigarh, has successfully developed two advanced 32-bit microprocessors: Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201. These processors are designed with space applications in mind and represent a major milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in high-performance computing for launch vehicles.
Key Highlights
Vikram 3201
- India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor qualified for space missions.
- Processes 32-bit data at a time, enabling efficient computations.
- Supports floating-point arithmetic, improving performance in complex calculations.
- Backward compatible with Vikram 1601, which has been in use since 2009.
- Fabricated at SCL’s 180nm CMOS semiconductor fab, reinforcing the Make in India initiative.
- Successfully validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission.
Kalpana 3201
- A 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor, based on IEEE 1754 Instruction Set Architecture.
- Compatible with open-source software toolsets.
- Tested with flight software, making it versatile for various space applications.
- Designed for efficiency and high-speed processing, with an emphasis on simple instructions.
Additional Developments
ISRO and SCL have collaborated to create a Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System and a Multi-Channel Low Drop-out Regulator Integrated Circuit, focusing on the miniaturization of avionics systems. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop miniaturized unsteady pressure sensors for wind tunnel applications, which strengthens their partnership.
