Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) develop semiconductor chip to address rising space needs

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have jointly developed and successfully booted an indigenous semiconductor chip, the RISCV Controller for Space Applications (IRIS). This chip is based on the Shakti processor and follows the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture. It was designed to meet the computing needs of space and other sectors, including the Internet of Things (IoT). The chip was manufactured at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Chandigarh and packaged by Tata Advanced Systems in Karnataka, marking a significant achievement towards the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat." The IRIS chip includes fault-tolerant memories and custom modules tailored for space applications.

This effort is part of India's broader initiative to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor technology. The project, led by IIT Madras' Prathap Subrahmanyam Centre for Digital Intelligence and Secure Hardware Architecture (PSCDISHA), involved collaboration across multiple Indian institutions, including ISRO's Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). The successful development and booting of the IRIS chip demonstrate India's capability to design, fabricate, and implement advanced technology within the country. It also highlights the success of India's "Make in India" initiative. The IRIS chip is set for flight testing, with plans to contribute to ISRO's future space missions.

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