Overview
What is the 69R000 RadHard Microcontroller?

    It is a microcontroller. That is, it has a microprocessor on chip, with a bus and internal memory. The type of architecture it uses is known as the Harvard architecture, which has multiple memory modules and buses for each instead of a single bus. It is, as one would assume, a very small controller. But you might already know this. Specifically, this microcontroller is used for satellite applications. It is the microcontroller version of the UT1750AR microprocessor.

What is so special about it?

    This particular microcontroller is used, as was mentioned before, for satellite applications. This actually means that it is radiation hardened, to resist and withstand conditions in space. This process is called 'radiation hardened twin well CMOS' , making the silicon (and the chips made from it) meet requirements for use in space. In addition, the 69R000 is power-efficient; with a maximum power dissipation of 600 millawatts. It also does 2 cycles per instruction-- for a total of 8 MIPS at 16 Mhz.

    In fact, this particular microcontroller is not limited to use in satellites; it meets specific military requirements and can be used in a variety of aeronautics applications. It is likely that most satellite-use microcontrollers have similar characteristics; since operating in space is probably the most strenuous operation it does.

What uses the 69R000?

Well, lets see what Anthony Jordan, director-standard products of Aeroflex has to say about the new, 20mhz 16 bit RadHard microcontroller;
"The product has been a very attractive tool for system designers building satellite systems requiring embedded control. The UT80CRH196KDS does not serve as the heart of a space computer, but fits instead into the embedded control system, sensor, experiment or other embedded control applications."

 There's no one particular use that the 69R000 and its siblings have; they may be used for:

 NASA and Aeroflex UTMC suggest that these types of microcontrollers will be used not just for satellites, but for controlling automated systems in space stations and other spacecraft.


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