- NASA has developed autonomous processors for spacecraft with significantly higher levels of computing performance.
- New radiation-resistant chip delivers hundreds of times greater processing capacity
- Deep Space Communication Delays Drive Demand for Embedded Autonomous Decision Systems
A 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 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 forward in spatial computing performance
NASA says its new radiation-resistant chip delivers up to 100 times more computing power than current spaceflight hardware, and early test results have even shown performance levels about 500 times higher than existing radiation-shielded processors.
“Building on the heritage of previous space processors, this new multi-core system is fault-tolerant, flexible and extremely performant,” said Eugene Schwanbeck, program manager at NASA Langley Research Center.
Any processor intended for deep space must withstand extreme electromagnetic radiation and dramatic temperature variations.
High-energy particles from the Sun can easily trigger computer errors that force conventional spacecraft into a protective “safe mode.”
Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory put the prototype through grueling simulations of these conditions.
“We are putting these new chips through their paces by performing radiation, thermal and shock tests,” explained Jim Butler, project manager for high-performance spatial computing at JPL.
The chip must also address the unique challenges of planetary landings without human intervention.
These dramatic improvements raise a legitimate question: have engineers considered the potential risks of truly autonomous machines?
Autonomy against the ghost of HAL
Sci-fi fans reading this may immediately remember 2001: A Space Odysseywhere a thinking computer named HAL malfunctions tragically in a story serving as a cautionary tale about granting machines too much independent authority over human lives.
NASA now envisions a spacecraft that can instantly process scientific data 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-hungry hardware to process huge volumes of sensor data.
It must be recognized that modern spacecraft already rely on automated systems for many routine functions.
The difference here lies in the extent of autonomy and the use of onboard artificial intelligence for 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 crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, where communications delays of several seconds would make real-time human control impossible.
The question of whether this technological leap brings unforeseen risks remains open. After all, HAL’s famous line, “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” began with the best of engineering intentions.
Via ScienceDaily
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