FPGA Remote Update for Nuclear Environments

In recent years there has been a growing interest to use reconfigurable modules, based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) devices, in nuclear environments. One of the requirements for these types of modules, when operating in complex future nuclear power experiments, is their remote update capability. The operational needs of pulsed fusion reactors will lead to a large production of very high energy neutrons (MeV range). The current procurement policies for nuclear installations do not allow exposure of electronics to radiation, except following very strict rules. However, considering the “as low as (is) reasonably achievable” (ALARA) principle with respect to human exposure to radiation, the access to cubicles might be restricted, requiring the remote update of FPGA codes. FPGAs are volatile devices, and their programming code is usually stored in dedicated flash memories for proper configuration during module power-on. This paper presents an alternative method for FPGA remote update, capable to store new FPGA codes in inboard Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) flash memories. The new method, based on the Xilinx Quick Boot application note and adapted to PCIe protocol, was developed with the KC705 Evaluation Kit from Xilinx and successfully tested in the in-house Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) prototype, installed on the ATCA-PTSW-AMC4 carrier module from the ITER Fast Plant System Controller catalogue.