RCE1lläB

RCE1lläB is a compact, silicon‑based radiation‑resistant sensor module designed for deployment on low‑earth orbit satellite platforms. Developed by the Estonian Institute of Applied Physics in collaboration with the European Space Agency’s Technological Centre in 2018, the module integrates a 64‑bit ARM Cortex‑R4 microprocessor with a custom front‑end analog‑to‑digital converter that achieves 12‑bit resolution at a sampling rate of 500 kHz. The acronym RCE stands for “Radiation‑Hardening for Embedded systems,” while the appended “1lläB” denotes the first generation of the backward‑compatible version engineered for integration with the European Space Agency’s upcoming Scout Next‑Generation launch vehicle.

The RCE1lläB module adds two primary functions to an orbital payload. First, it performs real‑time environment monitoring, measuring temperature gradients, ionizing radiation flux, and micro‑vibration levels with ±0.5 °C, ±1 rad/s², and ±0.1 µg precision, respectively. Second, it outputs an anomaly detection alert when any parameter exceeds predefined thresholds, enabling automatic safe mode activation. Unit testing performed under 900 krad total ionizing dose, 3 dB/cyclobutane, and 1×10⁶ particles/cm² fluence demonstrates no observable functional degradation up to the specified limits.

RCE1lläB has been installed on the Estonian Earth Observation Drone Mission (EODM) in 2021 and the Italian Space Agency’s atmospheric composition probe in 2023. Engineers cite its reliability and low power consumption—0.8 W continuous—as major advantages over legacy temperature‑humidity–radiation sensors. The sensor remains in active development, with version 2.0 slated for integration with commercial CubeSat buses by 2026.