The challenges posed by circuit board size, component numbers, power consumption, and heat generation are largely solved by the use of new radiation-resistant mixed-signal ICs based on the open RISC-V architecture.
Utilizing a new open RISC-V ISA architecture, the FPGA circuitry can operate advantageously close to a remote measurement source. It enables autonomous data collection, condition monitoring, and load control at the payload source, thus freeing up resources from the satellite CPU system since it does not have to be responsible for controlling the remote payload unit.
To read more please visit http://elektroniikkalehti.fi/index.php/tekniset-artikkelit-2/13-news/9687-edullisia-satelliitteja-avoimella-koodilla. Please note that the original article is in Finnish.