The Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) has awarded Frontgrade Gaisler, a leading provider of radiation-hardened microprocessors for space missions, a contract to commercialize the first neuromorphic System on Chip (SoC) device for space applications. Already in development at Frontgrade Gaisler, the device is part of the company’s new GRAIN (Gaisler Research Artificial Intelligence NOEL-V) product line.
The first GRAIN device that Frontgrade Gaisler will premier – the Gr801 SoC – integrates AkidaTM neuromorphic technology from BrainChip, the world’s first commercial producer of ultra-low power, fully digital, event-based, neuromorphic AI. The GR801 combines Gaisler’s NOEL-V RISC-V processor and the Akida neuromorphic AI processor into a single integrated circuit to enable energy-efficient AI applications in the space environment. Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) is contributing to this development by designing a demonstration application that uses a neuromorphic sensor directly connected to Gaisler’s new GR801 device.
Frontgrade Gaisler is designing the entire GRAIN product line to enable more advanced and autonomous space missions, and to enhance the space industry’s capabilities in energy-efficient AI. The GR801 SoC will support both commercial and institutional space missions, enabling new applications and meeting strict power and weight constraints.
