PiM-enabled Inference Co-Processor for Long-Range Missions (PICO-LRM) (PICO-LRM)

Onboard AI/ML processing is becoming increasingly prevalent when finding solutions to latency, bandwidth, and power constraints. PICO-LRM is a co-processor for AI/ML workloads designed specifically for deep space and long-term missions. Processing-in-Memory (PiM) computing eliminates the need to move data between separate memory and processing units, which constitutes the majority of power consumption in traditional computing architectures. Utilizing non-volatile memory (NVM) arrays and radiation-hardened FPGA, PICO-LRM is radiation resistant at the hardware level. PICO-LRM adapts NVIDIA's Deep Learning Accelerator (NVDLA) to offer an end-to-end software/firmware/hardware framework that will allow scientists to develop models using familiar tools, such as PyTorch/TensorFlow + CUDA, for optimized deployment on spacecraft. PICO-LRM is designed for seamless integration into NASA's High-Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) ecosystem as an AI/ML coprocessor and can enable NASA's target of 100x improvement in computational capacity within the same power budget.

PICO-LRM is being designed with seamless integration into NASA's High-Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) platform specifically in mind, ensuring cutting-edge space computing capabilities for next-generation manned deep space missions to Mars and the Moon, as well as robotic probes to outer planets and beyond. Beyond deep space missions, even CubeSats and SmallSats could leverage the Processing-in-Memory (PiM) technology for onboard AI/ML capabilities, extending power budgets and mission lifetimes while enabling autonomous operations that would otherwise be impractical with traditional computing architectures.  PICO-LRM has commercialization potential in defense, commercial space, and autonomous systems markets. The Department of Defense and international space agencies also require radiation-tolerant, energy-efficient AI accelerators for critical space-based operations. Commercial satellite operators are increasingly adopting onboard AI processing for real-time analysis and mission automation. Emerging space ventures focused on orbital manufacturing, lunar resource utilization, and deep-space infrastructure will benefit from low-power AI co-processors enabling autonomous operations in harsh environments.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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