Automatic insertion of fault-injectable flip-flops in FPGA emulators of satellite computing platforms

In space exploration, the demand for electronic processors capable of demonstrating reliability in the harsh space environment has significantly increased. One of the main concerns for processors operating in space is their susceptibility to faults induced by radiation. High-energy particles striking any part of the processor may induce data errors. Traditional approaches, such as radiation hardening, encounter substantial challenges, including high costs and limitations in fabrication. The use of Commercially Off-The-Shelf (COTS) processors presents a potential solution. Recent advances have made Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) processors widely accessible, offering speed and cost-efficiency. However, these generic COTS processors lack reliability features and are not tested for space applications. In addressing this, our approach integrates a fault injector module within a scalable processing platform, offering a tool that can be applied in early design phases. This facilitates validation against various faults, identifying vulnerable design areas, and enhancing overall system robustness without being limited to a specific architecture. This enables the simulation and evaluation of radiation-induced faults, notably single-event errors and stuck-at faults. While we utilize the PULP architecture as a test platform for our module, the applicability extends to a broader range of architectures. By assessing the fault tolerance of these processors, this research aims to pioneer a methodology for enhancing their reliability for space applications. Moreover, our tool provides insights into the parts of the design that are more sensitive than others, allowing us to identify areas requiring improvement to ensure reliability in space missions. This study demonstrates the potential for adapting COTS processors to space exploration, marking a shift towards more cost-effective and technologically advanced solutions viable for critical space-borne applications.