Idaho’s Center for Advanced Microelectronics and Biomolecular Research (CAMBR) ready to blast off – Computer chip allows higher performance with less weight for NASA

The countdown has begun for researchers at the University of Idaho’s Center for Advanced Microelectronics and Biomolecular Research (CAMBR).

By RICK THOMAS
Staff writer

Several years of research have resulted in the design of a computer chip that operates on a fraction of the voltage of traditional chips, and NASA has approved it for use in a satellite scheduled to go into orbit next year.

"We’ve achieved significantly higher performance with less weight," said Jody Gambles, associate director of the center, located in the UI Research Park.

A fraction of an ounce saved in the weight of a chip doesn’t mean much by itself, but the cumulative effect includes major weight savings in battery requirements, solar panel size and other components, said Gary Maki, director of the center.

The Reed-Solomon error-correction chip, only about the size of an adult male’s thumbnail, is used in the communication process from satellite to satellite and satellite to ground stations.

NASA is seeking ways to lighten payloads, allowing for deployment with smaller missiles or deployment of multiple satellites with a single missile.

"NASA is moving in that direction," said Gambles. "They could launch 50 to 60 satellites from one missile."

The space agency has approved the chip for use in a test satellite, the New Millennium ST5, which will weigh less than 50 pounds. It is part of the Nanosat system, which will utilize clusters of satellites in tight formation for a variety of research.

The chip designed by CAMBR requires only one-half volt of electricity, while prior NASA chips required three to five volts, said Maki. The 120 megabit per second encoder requires less than 1 percent of the power of previous designs. It was designed to meet NASA specifications and has been in development since 1999.

"It’s a breakthrough in technology and design," said Maki.

The chip has since been through a variety of tests, including radiation sensitivity and what Gambles called "shake and bake tests."

It will be used in telemetry communication to keep all companion satellites orbiting in unison. It also helps prevent loss of data caused by errors or interference.

The center has designed other chips, which have been used on well-known space explorers such as Hubble and Mars Surveyor.

The chip is being manufactured by AMI Semiconductor Inc. in Pocatello.

The chip will be on a set of three satellites on a five-month test scheduled for launch late next year.

"NASA does the math," said Maki. "They look to us to do high performance electronics.

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