Description
The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test a 500A class power unit capable of supplying DC power for both large on-board and AI processors for use in communication satellites.Targeted Improvements: Improved current supply capability of voltage regulators by a factor of ten enabling the use of high performance AI processors (GPUs and TPUs) in future telecom satellites.Description: Artificial Intelligence (AI) processors, such as those based on Graphics Processing Units (GPU) or Tensor Processor Units (TPU) can consume hundreds or even thousands of watts of power. European available rad-hard power supply solutions are available for high performance FPGAs but limited to a few amps and are not suitable for AI processors. To enable the application of AI in satellite communications it is necessary to address the challenges required by those processors, of very high supply currents. Promising concepts exist in terrestrial applications for data centres such as Point of Load regulators, multi-phase buck converters and fixed-ratio isolated converters. Together with the use of GaN power devices, power supply solutions are now in reach to achieve the power output and high currents needed for AI processors. Hence this activity will develop a very high current and high power processingunit for high performance AI processors up to 500A and a breadboard will be manufactured and tested.