- NASA developed autonomous processors for spacecraft with dramatically higher levels of computing performance
- New radiation-hardened chip offers hundreds of times greater processing capacity
- Delays in deep space communications are driving demand for onboard autonomous decision systems
The famous warning about autonomous machines from the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey seems to have faded from NASA’s memory, if it was ever taken seriously.
The space agency is now developing a powerful new processor that could allow spacecraft to make independent decisions during deep space missions.
As part of the HPSC (High-Performance Spaceflight Computing) project, this technology aims to reduce dependence on ground controllers, who currently face long communication delays.
A leap in spatial computing performance
NASA claims its new radiation-hardened chip offers up to 100 times more computing power than current spaceflight hardware, and early test results have even shown performance levels roughly 500 times greater than existing radiation-shielded processors.
“Building on the legacy of previous space processors, this new multi-core system is fault-tolerant, flexible and very high-performance,” said Eugene Schwanbeck, program manager at NASA Langley Research Center.
Any processor destined for deep space must withstand extreme electromagnetic radiation and dramatic temperature changes.
High-energy particles from the Sun can easily cause computer errors that force conventional spacecraft into a protective “safe mode.”
Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are subjecting the prototype to tough simulations of these conditions.
“We are testing these new chips using radiation, thermal and shock tests,” explained Jim Butler, project manager for High Performance Space Computing at JPL.
The chip must also address the unique challenges of planetary landings without human intervention.
These dramatic improvements raise a legitimate question about whether engineers have considered the potential risks of truly autonomous machines.
Autonomy versus the ghost of HAL
Sci-fi enthusiasts reading this may immediately remember 2001: A Space Odysseywhere a thinking computer named HAL tragically fails in a story that serves as a warning about giving machines too much independent authority over human lives.
NASA now envisions spacecraft that can process scientific data instantly and respond to unexpected dangers without waiting for instructions from Earth.
The agency is testing how the chip handles high-fidelity landing scenarios that would normally require power-intensive hardware to process massive volumes of sensor data.
Admittedly, modern spacecraft already rely on automated systems for many routine functions.
The difference here lies in the scale of autonomy and the use of onboard artificial intelligence for mission-critical decisions.
NASA’s collaboration with Microchip Technology has already produced sample chips for defense and commercial aerospace partners.
The finished processor could eventually support manned missions to the Moon and Mars, where communications delays of several seconds would make real-time human control impractical.
It remains an open question whether this technological leap carries unforeseen risks; After all, HAL’s famous line, “Sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” began with the best of engineering intentions.
Via ScienceDaily
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
