A European Roadmap to Leverage RISC-V in Space Applications

RISC-V is an open and modular Instruction Set Architecture(ISA) which is rapidly growing in popularity in terrestrial applications. This paper presents the place in future space embedded systems ESA's roadmap for RISC-V based processors. In order to satisfy different applications with contrasting requirements in satellite data systems, four different types of processors are identified: 1) General-Purpose (GP) processors for payloads 2) main platform On-Board Computers (OBCs) controllers 3) low-area/low-power microcontrollers (uCs), 4) enhanced payload processors with support for Artificial Intelligence (AI). We also describe the state of the art of the RISC-V software ecosystem, including the currently available hardware platforms, with a focus on developments for space applications and what has already been done in the European Space Industry. Finally, planned activities are presented, with a focus on the role of the European ecosystem.