Microchip Launches Arm‑Based MCUs for Scalable Space Missions – From COTS to Radiation‑Tolerant and Hardened Options

Space designers—from NewSpace startups to mission‑critical programs—are demanding faster, cheaper development cycles that still meet diverse radiation tolerances. Microchip Technology responds with the industry’s first Arm‑based microcontrollers that merge the low‑cost, rich ecosystem of commercial‑off‑the‑shelf (COTS) parts with space‑qualified variants offering scalable radiation performance.

Built on the automotive‑qualified SAMV71, the SAMV71Q21RT (radiation‑tolerant) and SAMRH71 (radiation‑hardened) MCUs feature the widely adopted Arm Cortex‑M7 System‑on‑Chip. This architecture delivers higher integration, reduced cost, and superior performance for space systems.

Software developers can prototype on the SAMV71 COTS device and, once the logic is validated, switch to the space‑grade part with zero change in the toolchain, libraries, Board Support Package, or operating‑system port. Pin‑out compatibility and identical development environments make the transition seamless.

For NewSpace applications such as low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellations and robotics, the SAMV71Q21RT offers an accumulated total ionizing dose (TID) tolerance of 30 kRad (Si), latch‑up immunity, and non‑destructive heavy‑ion resilience. The SAMRH71 is engineered for more demanding subsystems—gyroscopes, star trackers, and other critical avionics—and shares the same SEL immunity of up to 62 MeV·cm²/mg.

Leveraging the Cortex‑M7 core, both MCUs provide high‑performance, low‑power operation essential for long‑duration aerospace missions. Embedded fault‑management features—error‑correcting code memory, integrity‑check monitor, and memory protection unit—ensure data integrity in radiation environments. Connectivity is future‑ready with CAN FD, Ethernet AVB/TSN, and, for the SAMRH71, SpaceWire and MIL‑STD‑1553 interfaces supporting data rates up to 200 Mbit/s for deep‑space missions.

To accelerate design, the ATSAMV71‑XULT evaluation board is available, fully supported by Atmel Studio IDE and slated for inclusion in MPLAB Harmony 3.0 by mid‑2019.