good or bad, I am expecting to find out about the phase 1...

good or bad, I am expecting to find out about the phase 1 proposal that Vorago had entered into:

https://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/20/sbir/phase1/SBIR-20-1-H6.22-4509.html

Phase I is the first step towards creating radiation-hardened Edge AI capability. We plan to use the Akida Neural Processor architecture and, in Phase I, will:

1. Understand the operation of Brainchip’s IP
2. Understand 28nm instantiation of that IP (Akida)
3. Evaluate radiation vulnerability of different parts of the IP through the Akida Development Environment
4. Define architecture of target IC
5. Define how HARDSIL® will be used to harden each chosen IP block
6. Choose a target CMOS node (likely 28nm) and create a plan to design and fabricate the IC in that node, including defining the HARDSIL® process modules for this baseline process
7. Define the radiation testing plan to establish the radiation robustness of the IC

Successfully accomplishing these objectives:

• Establishes the feasibility of creating a useful, radiation-hardened product IC with embedded NPU and already-existing supporting software ecosystem to allow rapid adoption and productive use within NASA and the Space community.

• Creates the basis for an executable Phase II proposal and path towards fabrication of the processor.

https://sbir.nasa.gov/prg_sched_anncmnt

Selection Announcement Date
May 13, 2021*