Design and Implementation of Error Correction Circuits for RISC‑V

Based Systems in Space Applications

R. Kiran Kumar, Sk. Abdul Azeez, P. Bharath Kumar and K. Ganesh

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science, Andhra

Pradesh, India

Keywords: RISC‑V, Instruction Set Architecture, RV32IM, 5‑stage Pipeline, DE10 Lite FPGA, Error Correction Circuits,

Single‑Event Upsets, Radiation Tolerance, Error Correction Codes, Hamming Codes, Reed‑Solomon, Space

Applications, Fault Tolerance, FPGA Implementation.

Abstract: RISC-V, an open and extensible Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), is becoming increasingly popular for

space applications due to its flexibility and scalability. This paper focuses on implementing error correction

circuits on RISC-V processors, particularly using the RV32IM instruction set, to enhance reliability in space

environments prone to radiation effects such as single-event upsets (SEUs). We adopt a 5-stage pipeline

design to optimize processing and implement the system on a DE10 Lite FPGA platform for testing. The

study evaluates several error correction methods, including Hamming codes, Reed- Solomon, and Error

Correction Codes (ECC), assessing their effectiveness in reducing data corruption. By examining

performance, power efficiency, and fault tolerance, the research highlights how RISC-V systems can be

tailored for robust operation in space applications.

1 INTRODUCTION

As the demand for reliable computing systems in

space exploration and satellite technology grows,

ensuring fault tolerance in electronic components

becomes increasingly important. Space environments

expose systems to radiation, which can lead to Single-

Event Upsets (SEUs), affecting the integrity of data

and potentially causing system malfunctions. In

response to these challenges, RISC-V, an open- source

Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), has emerged as a

viable option for developing fault-tolerant systems

due to its modularity, flexibility, and adaptability.

RISC-V's open architecture allows customization

to meet specific requirements in space applications,

making it ideal for integrating error correction

mechanisms directly into the processor design. The

RV32IM instruction set, which supports integer

arithmetic and multiplication, provides a robust

foundation for building reliable systems.

Additionally, the 5-stage pipeline architecture helps to

improve processing efficiency and system

performance

Figure 1 shows the RISC-V 5-Stage

Pipeline Processor (RV32IM).

Figure 1: RISC-V 5-stage pipeline processor (RV32IM).

622

Kumar, R. K., Azeez, S. A., Kumar, P. B. and Ganesh, K.

Design and Implementation of Error Correction Circuits for RISC-V Based Systems in Space Applications.

DOI: 10.5220/0013939500004919

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Research and Development in Information, Communication, and Computing Technologies (ICRDICCT‘25 2025) - Volume 5, pages

622-627

ISBN: 978-989-758-777-1

2 REFERENCE STUDY

As the use of RISC-V processors grows in space

applications, researchers are focusing on improving

their reliability in harsh environments. One of the

main areas of interest is adding error correction

techniques to protect against radiation effects like

single-event upsets (SEUs).

Several studies have explored different error

correction methods. One study implemented

Hamming codes and Error Correction Codes (ECC)

in RISC-V systems, showing that these methods can

effectively detect and correct errors without

compromising the system's flexibility

3 MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Materials

3.1.1 RISC-V RV32IM Architecture

This is the instruction set used to design the processor.

It supports basic integer operations and

multiplication, which are essential for space systems.

3.1.2 5-Stage Pipeline

The processor design uses a 5-stage pipeline (Fetch,

Decode, Execute, Memory, Writeback) to improve

performance while keeping the design efficient for

space applications.

3.1.3 DE10 Lite FPGA

The DE10 Lite development board is used to

implement the processor. FPGAs allow us to test the

processor and error correction circuits in hardware.

3.1.4 Error Correction Techniques

 Hamming Codes: Used to correct

single-bit errors.

 Reed-Solomon Codes: Used to detect

and correct multi-bit errors.

 ECC (Error Correction Code): A

method to detect and correct errors in

memory and data.

3.1.5 Design Tools (Vivado/Quartus)

These tools are used to design and simulate the RISC-

V processor and error correction circuits on the

FPGA.

3.1.6 Fault Simulation

To mimic space radiation, a fault simulator is used to

inject errors into the system, allowing us to test the

effectiveness of error correction techniques.

3.2 Methods

3.2.1 Processor Design

A RISC-V processor based on the RV32IM

instruction set was designed using a 5-stage pipeline

and synthesized on the DE10 Lite FPGA. This core

was developed to handle basic computations

efficiently.

3.2.2 Adding Error Correction

 Hamming Code: This was added to

memory operations to detect and

correct single-bit errors.

 Reed-Solomon Code: This was used

to protect critical data paths and

detect/correct multiple-bit errors.

 ECC: General error correction was

added to detect errors in key parts of

the processor, improving its overall

reliability.

3.2.3 Simulating Radiation Faults

We used a fault injection tool to simulate the effects

of radiation on the FPGA, causing random errors (like

single-event upsets). This helped us test how well the

error correction circuits worked in fixing these faults.

3.2.4 Performance Testing

After adding the error correction circuits, we tested

the processor's performance to see if it slowed down

and measured how much power it consumed. This

was done to balance reliability with efficiency.

3.2.5 Reliability Analysis

By running tests and injecting faults, we measured

how effectively each error correction technique

(Hamming, Reed-Solomon, ECC) detected and fixed

errors. We then compared the results to find the best

solution for space environments.

This method ensures that the RISC-V processor

with error correction can operate reliably in space,

even when exposed to radiation. Table 1 shows the

Comparative Fault Tolerance Analysis of Error

Correction Techniques.

Design and Implementation of Error Correction Circuits for RISC-V Based Systems in Space Applications

623

Table 1: Comparative fault tolerance analysis of error

correction techniques.

Synthesis report of RV321 for Space Applications using the

Erro

Detection an

Correction:

Paramete

Value

Total area(µm"2) 0.17837

Total Power

(

)

Dynamic

Powe

17.2224

Leakage

Powe

0.2508661

Timin

ort Cloc

Dela

)

Maximum Frequency (MHz)

4 DESIGN AND

IMPLEMENTATION

This project centers around designing a RISC-V

processor using the RV32IM instruction set,

implemented on the DE10 Lite FPGA platform. The

processor features a 5-stage pipeline architecture with

the following stages:

1. Instruction Fetch (IF)

2. Instruction Decode (ID)

3. Execution (EX)

4. Memory Access (MEM)

5. Write Back (WB)

To improve fault tolerance, error correction

circuits have been embedded in memory operations

and data paths. Specifically:

 Hamming Code is used to detect and correct

single-bit errors in memory. This method is

efficient and incurs low overhead, making it

ideal for resource-limited space systems.

 Reed-Solomon Code is deployed to handle

multi-bit errors. This method provides

higher error correction capability, suitable

for environments like space, where burst

errors are more likely.

The processor is equipped with error detection and

correction features that regularly check data integrity,

enhancing its resilience to SEUs.

5 TESTING AND EVALUATION

The processor's error correction capabilities were

evaluated using fault injection simulations designed

to mimic radiation- induced faults encountered in

space. The testing focused on:

1. Single-Bit Error Detection and Correction:

Hamming code was tested under conditions

with injected single-bit errors in memory

operations. The system was able to detect

and correct these errors efficiently, ensuring

data integrity without significantly

affecting processor performance.

2. Multi-Bit Error Handling: Reed-Solomon

code was tested under conditions with burst

errors (affecting multiple bits). The system

demonstrated the ability to correct these

multi-bit errors, maintaining operational

reliability.

3. Performance Impact: The additional steps

required for error correction led to a slight

increase in clock cycles. However, the

performance impact was minimal and

within acceptable limits for space

operations.

4. Power Consumption: A small increase in

power consumption was observed due to the

added error correction circuitry. Despite

this, the design remains suitable for energy-

efficient systems in space.

6 FUTURE WORK

Future research could focus on exploring more

advanced error correction techniques like BCH codes

or implementing hardware-based fault detection

mechanisms. This could include the use of redundant

hardware elements, such as triple modular

redundancy (TMR), or integrating radiation-hardened

versions of RISC-V to reduce the need for software-

based error correction.

7 METHODOLOGY

The implementation of the RISC-V processor for this

project follows a structured approach. The RV32IM

variant of the RISC-V ISA was selected due to its

simplicity and suitability for embedded applications.

The processor was designed using a 5-stage pipeline,

including Instruction Fetch (IF), Instruction Decode

(ID), Execution (EX), Memory Access (MEM), and

Write Back (WB) stages.

To ensure reliability in space environments, error

correction circuits were integrated into the memory

operations and data transmission paths. Two primary

error correction techniques were employed:

 Hamming Code: This error correction code

is applied to detect and correct single-bit

ICRDICCT‘25 2025 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN INFORMATION,

COMMUNICATION, AND COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES

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errors. It is lightweight and provides

efficient error correction with minimal

processing overhead, making it suitable for

space systems where resources are

constrained.

 Reed-Solomon Code: This method is used

to handle multi-bit errors and is effective for

correcting burst errors. The Reed-Solomon

code provides more robust error correction

capabilities and is particularly useful in

environments. Figure 2 shows the resultant

outputs of the RISC-V processor depend on the

given instructions and input data.

Figure 3

shows the resultant outputs of the Error

Correction Circuit depend on the given

instructions and input data.

Figure 2: The resultant outputs of the RISC-V processor depend on the given instructions and input data.

Design and Implementation of Error Correction Circuits for RISC-V Based Systems in Space Applications

625

Figure 3: The resultant outputs of the error correction circuit depend on the given instructions and input data.

8 RESULTS

The study showed that incorporating error correction

techniques into the RISC-V processor significantly

improved its reliability in radiation- prone

environments. The Hamming code was able to detect

and correct single-bit errors in memory efficiently,

with minimal impact on system performance. The

Reed-Solomon code provided strong protection

against multi-bit errors, making the system more

resilient to complex faults.

During fault injection simulations that mimicked

radiation effects, both the Hamming and Reed-

Solomon codes demonstrated high effectiveness in

detecting and correcting errors, ensuring the system

remained stable. ECC (Error Correction Code) further

enhanced the processor's ability to manage errors

across different parts of the system.

Although the addition of error correction circuits

slightly increased the processor's clock cycle count,

the overall performance impact was minimal and well

within the acceptable range for space applications.

The system's power consumption showed a small

increase due to the error correction processes, but it

remained efficient enough for space use, balancing

reliability and energy efficiency

9 CONCLUSIONS

This study successfully demonstrated that integrating

error correction techniques, such as Hamming codes,

Reed-Solomon codes, and ECC, into RISC-V

processors enhances their reliability for space

applications. The implemented error correction

methods were effective in detecting and correcting

ICRDICCT‘25 2025 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN INFORMATION,

COMMUNICATION, AND COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES

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single-bit and multi-bit errors caused by radiation

effects, ensuring stable processor operation in harsh

environments. While there was a slight increase in

clock cycle count and power consumption, the

performance remained within acceptable limits,

making these techniques suitable for space systems.

Overall, the results highlight the potential of RISC-V

architectures with error correction for reliable and

efficient use in space applications.

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