On the Analysis of Radiation-Induced Faults in FPGA-Based Optical Communication for Space Applications

Space-oriented computing platforms are increasingly relying on multi-board FPGA clusters, making reliable and efficient inter-board communication a key design requirement. In this context, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) FPGAs represent an attractive solution thanks to their high computational capability and flexibility. Their adoption in radiation-prone environments, however, raises significant reliability concerns, as radiation-induced effects may alter both the implemented logic and the configuration memory, potentially compromising the communication infrastructure. This paper presents a reliability assessment of an optical-fiber FPGA-to-FPGA communication system, evaluating the resilience of the data link layer against Single-Event Upsets (SEUs) and the impact of Single-Event Transients (SETs) on the transceiver control logic. In addition, a lightweight encoder/decoder stage is introduced at the data link layer to assess the effect of a simple mitigation strategy on communication robustness. The results highlight a non-negligible vulnerability of the communication chain, with error rates reaching approximately 6.4% and 3% on the RX and TX sides of the data link layer, respectively, and a transceiver sensitivity of about 15%, confirming the need for dedicated mitigation strategies to ensure reliable communication in FPGA-based space computing systems.