a 180nm chip? It will be a power hog, but probably more hardened than smaller processes?Amber G. wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 00:41 India Unveils Indigenous Vikram Chip for Space Tech Leap
India has achieved a major milestone in technology self-reliance by unveiling the Vikram 32-bit processor, its first fully indigenous semiconductor chip, at Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi on September 2. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Semiconductor Laboratory, the chip is designed for space missions, enduring extreme conditions in rockets and satellites. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing its role in reducing import dependence and boosting India's position in the global semiconductor market, backed by $18 billion in investments.
-News Reports.
Yes — a 180 nm chip will draw more power compared to advanced processes, but in this context it’s a deliberate and practical tradeoff. In space, a slightly “power-hungry” but radiation-hardened, reliable, and indigenous processor is often preferable to a sleek, low-power but fragile 5 nm chip.
Afaik, nothing below 65nm have been tested for space use. 180 looked high as I was honestly expecting a 90nm process.
Yep, hence my hope that we hit the 90nm mark. As an engineer, if 180nm is good enough, there is no need for anything smallerAmber G. wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 02:32 ^^ yes, for radiation and thermal considerations..
(Just did some quick checking with google etc.. Space chips lag ~15–20 years behind commercial chips in process nodes and raw performance.
A typical space-grade CPU- today.
Process: 150–180 nm (some 90 nm, a few 65 nm), Clock: 100–300 MHz - 100–500 MIPS , Power: 5–20 W, Radiation tolerance: 100 kRad+ )
Floor on tested chips. As per wikipedia page, which gives a good overview, what was achieved is 110 nm for RADHARD in
Use of a special process node provides increased radiation resistance.[16] Due to the high development costs of new radiation hardened processes, the smallest "true" rad-hard (RHBP, rad-hard by process) process is 150 nm as of 2016, however, rad-hard 65 nm FPGAs were available that used some of the techniques used in "true" rad-hard processes (RHBD, rad-hard by design).[17] As of 2019 110 nm rad-hard processes are available.[18]
No I don't, and I don't want to. All I want is as many imported high-tech parts be replaced by indigenous ones as possible, as soon as possible, to ensure strategic autonomy
Then the answer is no. Not all chips are straight-up CPU types with software controlling behavior, most(?) are regular ICs, with very defined schemas.
Space use only, (replacing imported chips in satellites and rockets.)
As I mentioned in my reply, there are many types of ICs and most of the ICs are COTS components. Meaning, one can buy them on open market, but supply chain attacks are still possible. The question was if we can replace our existing ICs with this. Without knowing what type, no one can answer that question.
pravula wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 10:15As I mentioned in my reply, there are many types of ICs and most of the ICs are COTS components. Meaning, one can buy them on open market, but supply chain attacks are still possible. The question was if we can replace our existing ICs with this. Without knowing what type, no one can answer that question.
BTW, its like asking someone if a Intel x86 chip can replace a xyz chip. How is anyone supposed to answer that?
The question was if we can replace our existing ICs with this..
During the meeting
-PM Modi spoke Hindi
-Putin spoke Russian
-Xi spoke Chinese
-No Russian mocks Putin for not speaking English
-No chinese mocks Xi for not speaking English
-Congressi trolls are mocking PM Modi and calling him illiterate for not speaking English
And you wonder how a few hundred outsiders managed to invade us again and again....
We always had such traitors among us..
VIKRAM3201 is the first fully “Make-in-India” 32-bit microprocessor that is qualified for use in the harsh environmental conditions of launch vehicles. The processor was fabricated at the 180nm CMOS semiconductor fab of SCL. This processor is an advanced version of the indigenously designed 16-bit VIKRAM1601 microprocessor which has been flying in the Avionics system of ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009. A “Make-in-India” version of the VIKRAM1601 processor was subsequently inducted in 2016 after the 180nm semiconductor fab was established at SCL, Chandigarh.
VIKRAM3201 & the VIKRAM1601 has a custom Instruction Set Architecture, with floating-point computation capability and high-level language support for the Ada language. All the software tools such as the Ada compiler, assembler, linker, simulator along with Integrated Development Environment (IDE) are developed in-house by ISRO. A C language compiler is also under development for providing more flexibility to users in other domains. This is the first of its kind in India and has enabled Atmanirbharata in the area of high reliability microprocessors and onboard computers for navigation, guidance & control of launch vehicles. The initial lot of VIKRAM3201 devices was successfully validated in space in the Mission Management Computer of the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4) in the PSLV-C60 mission.
Thanks for your reply.Amber G. wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 09:16Space use only, (replacing imported chips in satellites and rockets.)
Developed by ISRO -- SCL) for space missions -Designed to withstand:
-Vacuum, High radiation doses ,Extreme temperatures in rockets and satellites
-Flight-validated on PSLV missions.
tailored for orbital and interplanetary environments, NOT tactical military electronics.
** I Think *** Obviously for Missile systems - Less radiation but needs more acceleration/vibration/heat resistant faster chips (real-time control etc) are needed.. different specs. .. May be considered uses for non-critical control logic - it might replace imported general-purpose or microcontroller chips..Could be integrated into missile subsystems that don’t require extremely high clock speeds ..ityadi.
(From ordinary logic -Vikram, as it is, can not be used for microsecond-level guidance control loops, Power consumption at 180 nm may be too high and vibration and shock tolerance may not be enough)
(Did not see the above post -- still leaving it FWIW)
This is from the old Maoist playbook -- organize masses from the countryside and lay siege to the cities.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann unwell, Skips Tour to Flood-hit Areas with Kejriwal
S_Madhukar ji,S_Madhukar wrote: ↑05 Sep 2025 10:54 One has to admire albeit a bit sadly how NaMo has to navigate this term.
...
If this is not Abhimanyu facing Chakravyuha then what is!
I too want robust fiery responses for every insult and slight levied at us but may be that’s for the next generations. We will have to put our heads down and just get us the pole position while telling everyone “Thank you, come again! But if you don’t that’s ok we got options”
