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Q8RF FAMILY

Two Models of Powerful SDR/Processor Cards to Choose From.

The Xiphos Q8RF family is based upon the well-regarded Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoCs (RF System-on-Chip) devices. These are highly integrated system-on-chip devices from AMD Xilinx that combine high-speed RF-class ADCs and DACs, programmable FPGA logic, and embedded ARM processors on a single chip. This architecture enables direct RF sampling and real-time digital signal processing without the need for external data converters or complex analog front ends. By tightly coupling processing and conversion resources, RFSoCs significantly reduce system size, weight, power, and latency—making them ideal for advanced RF applications that demand high channel density, wide bandwidth, and low-latency signal chain control.

Xiphos has combined these RFSoC devices with its fault-tolerant space architecture that has been developed over more than two decades to ensure trouble-free operation in-orbit.

The new Q8RFG3 is based on the third Artboard 2@4xgeneration of Xilinx RFSoC devices which adds upgrades to the digitization portion of the architecture, the RF input bandwidth and the ability to synchronize multiple Q8RFs together for applications such as digital beam forming.

 

Q8RF RFSoC FAMILY offers the following key features:

Model Q8RF Q8RFG3
Environmental Characteristics
Temperature (operating) -40 to +60 °C
Size 100 mm x 100 mm x 20 mm
Weight 200 g
Power (Typ.) 6.6 W
Memory
Memory
  • 4 GB PS LPDDR4 DRAM (with EDAC)
  • 4 GB PL DDR4 DRAM
  • 2x 256 MB QSPI Flash (NOR)
Storage 2x 32 GB NAND Flash 2x 128 GB eMMC
MPSoC
Model ZU28DR ZU48DR
Application Processing Unit Quad-core ARM Cortex A53 Application Processing Unit at up to 1.2 GHz
Real-Time Processing Unit Dual-core ARM Cortex-R5 @ 500 MHz
ADCs 8, each 4.096 GSPS max; 12-bit 8, each 5.0 GSPS max; 14-bit
RF Input Frequency, max 4 GHz 6 GHz
DACs 8, each 6.5554 GSPS max; 14-bit 8, each 9.85 GSPS max; 14-bit
Decimation/ Interpolation 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x, 10x, 12x, 16x, 20x, 24x, 40x
System Logic Cells 930,000
CLB Flip Flops 850,000
CLB LUTs 425,000
DSP Slices 4,272
Model Q8RF Q8RFG3
Control FPGA
  Microchip ProASIC3
Operating System
  Yocto Linux BSP (LTS distribution)
Bottom RF Mezzanine Connector
 
  • 8x Transmit + 8x Receive RF
  • Ext Ref Clock(s) In, Ref Clock Out
Bottom I/O Mezzanine Connector
 
  • 46x LVDS or 92x 1.8V GPIO, 39x 3.3V GPIO
  • 16x 28.21 Gbps GTY transceivers supporting PCIe Gen 3 & 100G Ethernet
  • 3x GTR transceivers supporting PCIe Gen 2 & SATA

Specific Use

The Q8RF family is ideal for space applications that require high performance, wide bandwidth, multi-channel SDR payloads. It is often used for applications such as broadband communications, Internet of Things (IoT), RF sensing & SIGINT, beam-forming, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

Did you know

In addition to our standard daughterboards, we offer application-specific development integrating our powerful Q-Card processors with the interfacing options and application-specific electronics you require. Contact our team to learn more about customization.

Explore Custom Solutions

FAQ

Are Xiphos products truly space-ready?

Absolutely. Xiphos has a rich history in creating Processor Boards designed explicitly for space applications using COTS components. Every element, from component selection to logic features, is designed to exceed your mission expectations. We've proven our capabilities in various missions and roles.

Where are Xiphos products typically deployed?

With the burgeoning New Space market, our products have found their place in numerous LEO applications, launchers, and even on the moon. We analyze your specific requirements and recommend the most suitable product to ensure mission success.

What tools are necessary to design my solution on Xiphos boards?

We provide a Linux Software Development Kit (SDK) based on industry-standard toolchains, enabling our customers to implement their designs on our boards rapidly. We also offer a Vivado skeleton project as a starting point, leaving over 90% of the FPGA resources available for your application.

Can Xiphos accommodate specific interface requirements for my mission?

Absolutely! We collaborate closely with our customers to cater to varied interface requirements. We either provide a ready solution or guide your team on how to implement it.

Does Xiphos offer technical support?

Yes, we do: Our technical support aims to assist with product understanding and overcoming initial learning curves. We also provide project-specific support packages, which can be utilized to develop custom software or logic, review your design, or even aid in designing your carrier board.

How does Xiphos quantify radiation exposure?

We quantify radiation exposure through testing of both Total Ionizing Dose (TID), which accumulates over time, and Single-Event Effects (SEE), which is more like a lightning strike. TID is a measure of the total amount of radiation that a device is expected to be exposed to over its mission life, while SEE is a measure of the effects of the individual "hits" of radiation that a device has experienced.

What is the architecture of the Xiphos COTS-based Processor Board that makes it useable Space?

The board has dual FPGA (processor and supervisor) and ECC for its memory banks. It also provides a suite of other radiation effects mitigation features. We also ensure that the selected components can survive the harsh radiation environment of space.

How does Xiphos handle the memory scrubbing of memory devices?

Xiphos provides memory scrubbing software that can be run in the background of the main application software to clear single-bit errors in memory.

What kind of design validation does Xiphos perform?

Xiphos conducts a radiation qualification test campaign, including board-level proton and TID (gamma ray) testing, as well as an environmental qualification that includes TVAC, vibration, and shock testing.

What documentation does Xiphos provide to customers?

We provide spec sheets, pinout files, user manuals, mechanical drawings, and 3D STEP files, some of which are provided under NDA.

Can you provide details about the different types of Xiphos Processor Boards?

The document lists various Processor Boards with their specifications, like the Q7, Q7AE, Q7RH, Q8, Q8J, Q8RF, and Q8RH.

What are the available Daughterboards for Q7 and Q8 processors?

For Q7, there's the Q7ACS and Q7 Camera Board. For Q8, there's the Q8 Camera Board, Q8 SDR Dock, and Q8 DHMMU.

What peripherals and interfaces are available in the Q7 Zynq 7020 MPSoC FPGA?

The Q7 MPSoC FPGA has multiple ‘hard core” peripherals, including 2x Gigabit Ethernet MAC, 2x USB 2.0, 2x CAN 2.0B, 2x SDIO, 2x SPI, 2x UART, 2x I2C, GPIO. For Q8, there's PCI Express 2.1, SATA 6Gbs rev 3.1, 4x Ethernet MAC rev 2.0, and 2x USB rev 2

What peripherals are available in the Q8 and Q8J Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC FPGA?

The Q8 and Q8J MPSoC FPGAs have multiple ‘hard core” peripherals, including 4x Gigabit Ethernet MAC, 2x USB 3.0/2.0, 2x CAN 2.0B, 2x SDIO, 2x SPI, 2x UART, 2x I2C, GPIO, PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 2, and SATA 6Gbs Rev 3.1. The Q8J also provides access to the MPSOC’s 2x PCIe Gen 3 cores in the PL.

What are the main offerings of Xiphos?

Xiphos creates superior, high-performance, space-ready COTS-based Processor Boards and Daughterboards, leveraging the power of Xilinx MPSoC FPGAs.

What sort of advantages does Xiphos bring to the table?

Quite a lot!

  • Exceptional performance: Our products are built to deliver unparalleled performance in the most challenging applications.
  • Flight-proven resilience: Rigorous testing under the harshest conditions ensures the reliability of our products.
  • Tailored solutions: We offer customization to cater to your specific needs.
  • Comprehensive support: Our wide range of support options will ensure you get the maximum value out of our products.

What are the distinct product categories offered by Xiphos?

  • Processor Boards: The beating heart of our product line, our Processor Boards come packed with various features and options to cater to diverse applications.
  • Daughterboards: Our Daughterboards are compact and specialized, designed for particular applications such as SDR, imaging, or robotics.
  • Software: We provide a suite of software tools to aid you in developing and deploying various applications on our products.

How can I procure products from Xiphos?

Xiphos' products can be accessed through multiple channels, including this website, authorized distributors, and direct sales representatives.

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