India is making rapid strides in futuristic technology, particularly in semiconductor development for aerospace applications. With the successful creation of an indigenous chip, the country is establishing itself as a key player in the field. This achievement is the result of a collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The newly developed chip, named IRIS (Indigenous RISC-V Controller for Space Applications), is built on the SHAKTI microprocessor. This initiative aligns with India’s broader vision of achieving self-sufficiency in semiconductor technology.
The SHAKTI microprocessor project, spearheaded by Professor V Kamakoti at IIT Madras’ Prathap Subrahmanyam Centre for Digital Intelligence and Secure Hardware Architecture (PSCDISHA), is a key part of India’s semiconductor research. It utilizes RISC-V, an open-source processor architecture, and is supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the ‘Digital India RISC-V’ (DIRV) initiative.
Key Features of the IRIS Chip
- Designed to support ISRO’s command and control systems.
- Built for fault tolerance and high reliability, crucial for space missions.
- Includes advanced features such as WATCHDOG timers and specialized serial buses.
- Expandable for future space applications with multiple boot modes and hybrid memory extensions.
- Entirely developed and manufactured in India.
Strengthening India’s Semiconductor Manufacturing
The development of the IRIS chip represents a major step in India’s semiconductor capabilities. The concept was initiated by IISU Thiruvananthapuram, while the design was carried out at IIT Madras. Manufacturing took place at SCL Chandigarh, with Tata Advanced Systems in Karnataka handling packaging. Additionally, the motherboard was produced in Gujarat and later assembled in Chennai.
IIT Madras played a crucial role in software development, successfully booting the chip. Professor V Kamakoti noted that this is India’s third SHAKTI chip, following the fabrication of RIMO in 2018 and MOUSHIK in 2020.
ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan hailed this achievement as a milestone in India’s semiconductor journey, commending the collaborative efforts of IISU and IIT Madras. Similarly, Kamaljeet Singh, Director General of SCL Chandigarh, highlighted that the chip was manufactured using SCL’s 180 nm technology node, showcasing India’s growing expertise in semiconductor fabrication.
This breakthrough reinforces India’s commitment to self-reliance in space technology, strengthening the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
