Xiphos Systems Corporation and Epiq Solutions have introduced the Xiphos Q8RF, a next-generation radiation-tolerant embedded computer based on the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ ZU28DR RFSoC. The Q8RF is targeted for small satellite applications where advanced wide bandwidth processing is required while minimizing size and power consumption. 

The Q8RF combines an embedded Linux computer, reprogrammable logic, multi-giga sample/sec data converters, a daughterboard expansion interface for customized I/O, and proven radiation effects mitigation to enable small satellites to advance their SDR mission capability.

Measuring just 100mm x 100mm, the Xiphos Q8RF is based on the Zynq® UltraScale+™ ZU28DR RFSoC, which features eight high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and eight high-speed digital-to-analog converters (DACs). The ADCs are capable of sampling up to 4GSPS, and the DACs are capable of sampling up to 6.5GSPS, enabling SDR applications that require greater than 1GHz of instantaneous bandwidth and access to RF frequencies up to 4GHz. 

Advanced processing is supported through the RFSoC's integrated quad-core ARM Cortex-A53, dual-core ARM Cortex R5, 930k system logic cells, and 4,272 DSP slices. Complimenting the RFSoC, the Xiphos Q8RF integrates 4GB of ECC-protected LPDDR4 RAM on the PS, 4GB of DDR4 on the PL, 512MB of QSPI Flash, and 64GB of NAND Flash. The flexibility of the Q8RF, as with all of Xiphos' processor products, is the availability, over and above the various RF inputs and outputs, of a multitude of the RFSoC's low and high-speed digital interfaces. These signals are made available via the Q8RF's mezzanine connector, enabling the development of application-specific daughterboards, tailored to various RF use cases. This high level of integration will enable Xiphos' customers to push the envelope for next-generation SDR applications.

"The Q8RF embedded processing module, with its low SWaP, high level of integration, and Xiphos' robust radiation mitigation architecture, provides unprecedented performance and capabilities for nanosat, microsat, and smallsat SDR applications", said Edwin Faier, President of Xiphos Systems Corporation. "We are excited to continue to enable state-of-the-art space processing solutions for our customers."

Click here to learn about Q8RF Embedded Processing Module.