PolarBerry

RISC-V enabled SBC and SoM for highly secure, low power and thermally efficient embedded systems development

 

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Description

  • Based on Microchip’s PolarFire® SoC FPGAs, combining FPGA capabilities with a 64-bit, Linux capable multicore RISC-V processor
  • Delivers an unparalleled combination of defence-grade security, low power consumption and thermal efficiency for smart, connected systems
  • Ideally suited to defence/mil-aero, AI/ML, communications, automotive, industrial automation and imaging applications as well as the Internet of Things

PolarBerry is the first production and deployment-ready SoM with a hardened 64 bit, multicore real-time, Linux-capable RISC-V MPU subsystem to deliver an unparalleled combination of defence-grade security, low power consumption and thermal efficiency for embedded systems development.

With Microchip Technology Inc.’s PolarFire SoC field programmable gate array (FPGA) at its heart, providing a deterministic, coherent 64-bit RISC-V CPU cluster and a deterministic L2 memory subsystem enabling the implementation of secure Linux and real-time applications, PolarBerry is ideally suited to the development of
embedded computing and real-time applications based on RISC-V processors as an alternative to ARM. Typical applications will be found in the defence/mil-aero, AI/ML, communications, automotive, industrial automation and imaging markets as well as the Internet of Things.

PolarBerry’s compute engine delivers up to 50% lower power than alternative FPGAs, 250k logic elements (LEs) and features four high-speed, low-power transceivers from 250Mbps to 12.7Gbps. The PolarFire SoC FPGA’s power consumption is 12W maximum and power provided directly from the PolarBerry SoM to enable embedded solutions.

The PolarBerry SoM offers all the important attributes for strong SoC/FPGA design security including anti-cloning protection, device-level anti-tamper features, bitstream protection, key management, FPGA hardware access control, secure boot and physical memory protection (PMP) as well as supply chain assurance. It also features a 40 pin Raspberry Pi (RPI) interface to allow standalone operation and rapid application development by providing up to 26 GPIOs, 20 of which can be assigned to SPI, UART, CAN or other interfaces. All RPI signals are 3.3V logic. Associated onboard PolarBerry SoM peripherals include 4GB of 32-bit wide DDR4 memory, 128MB SPI Serial NOR FLASH for storing the boot image and programmable clocks to provide flexible clocking to the FPGA and high-speed transceivers. There is also an RJ45 Ethernet socket with 100/1000Base-T interface, two CAN 2.0 physical layers, a JTAG interface for programming and 4GB of eMMC non-volatile storage. Samtec connectors provide high-speed communication to a carrier board for powerful peripheral customization. The power consumption of the module is 16W with power in can be applied via PRI interface or carrier board.

The PolarBerry SoM measures just 55mm by 85mm and has an operational temperature range of 0°C and +70°C. It can also be installed on Sundance’s PCIe SoM carrier to provide access to an FMC and additional interfaces.

Specifications

  • SoC: Microsemi PolarFire FPGA MPFS250T-FCVG484
    • 5 x RISC-V cores in a deterministic, coherent cluster
      • 1 x RV64IMAC monitor core
      • 4 x RV64GC application cores
    • 254K x logic elements (4LUT + DFF)
    • 784 x math blocks (18 x 18 MACC)
    • 16 x SERDES lanes at 12.5 Gbps
    • 12 W maximum power consumption
    • Built-in oscillator for configuration, etc.
  • Security:
    • DPA-resistant bitstream programming
    • DPA-resistant secure boot
    • Anti-tamper
    • DPA-resistant crypto-coprocessor
    • CRI DPA countermeasures pass-through license
  • Memory: Micron MT40A1G16WBU-083E:B
    • 4 GB of 32-bit wide DDR4 memory
  • Storage:
    • 128 Mb SPI Serial NOR flash for storing boot image
    • 4 Gb eMMC for general use
  • Clock Sources:
    • 1 x 25 MHz XO with ±10 ppm stability over temperature, as reference
    • 4 x Silicon Labs SI5338A programmable clock sources, providing flexible clocking to FPGA and high-speed transceivers
  • Transceivers:
    • 4 x high-speed, low-power transceivers from 250 Mbps – 12.7 Gbps
  • Expansion Interfaces:
    • High-speed IO: 3 x high-speed Samtec connectors
      • Bank 1 IO from FPGA including ULPI
      • JTAG
      • SPI interface from FPGA
      • 100/1000BASE-T interface
    • Raspbery Pi connector: 40-pin (2 x 20) male headers with standard .1″ (2.54 mm) pitch
      • 1 x I²C from MSS part
      • 1 x UART from MSS part
      • 20 x GPIOs from PL part(can be assigned to SPI, UART, CAN or another interface from MSS)
      • 6 x GPIOs from MSS part
      • All RPI signals are 3.3 V logic
    • CAN: 6-pin (1 x 6) male headers with standard .1″ (2.54 mm) pitch
      • 2 x CAN 2.0 PHY
    • Ethernet: RJ45 connector
      • 100/1000BASE-T
  • Power: Intel EN63A0QA
    • Operates on 5 or 3.3 V input
    • Maximum power consumption of module is 16 W
  • Dimensions: 55 x 85 mm
  • Temperature range: -20°C to +65°C

Security

PolarBerry utilizes the PolarFire FPGA fabic and RISC-V processors to provide high levels of security for real-time applications. It features advanced code and bitstream security and anti-tamper engines. These measures give PolarBerry previously unheard-of, defense-level security for an SBC/SoM.

PolarBerry offers all the important attributes for a strong SoC FPGA design security:

  • Bitstream protection
  • Key management
  • FPGA hardware access control
  • Anti-cloning protection
  • Device-level anti-tamper features
  • Supply chain assurance
  • Secure Boot
  • Physical Memory Protection (PMP)

Block Diagram

Support & Docs

Development Tools

SundanceDSP is part of the Microsemi Mi-V ecosystem, which brings together tools and vendors tailored for the PolarFire SoC, including:

The Microsemi Mi-V ecosystem brings together tools and vendors tailored for the PolarFire SoC, including:

Free Libero Silver License

Developing on the PolarBerry kit requires a Libero Silver license, which is free of charge and valid for one year. Once that license has expired, you will be able to generate a new license each year for free