ISRO, Mohali lab develop chips for launch vehicles

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Mohali’s Semiconductor Laboratory have developed 32-bit microprocessors for space applications.

Named as Vikram3201 and Kalpana3201, these are the first fully India-made microprocessors for use in the harsh environmental conditions of satellite launch vehicles. The microprocessors were designed and developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of ISRO in collaboration with the Mohali lab.

Vikram3201 is an advanced version of the indigenously designed 16-bit Vikram1601 microprocessor. It has given self-reliance in the area of high-reliability microprocessors and onboard computers for navigation, guidance and control of launch vehicles.

Kalpana 3201 is a 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor designed to be compatible with open-source software toolsets along with in-house developed simulator and has been tested with flight software.

Four other devices jointly developed with the Mohali lab were also handed over to Dr V Narayanan, Secretary, Chairman, ISRO.