Hardware Platforms Enabling Edge AI for Space Applications: A Critical Review

Artificial Intelligence is an emerging technology in the space industry as it enables real-time data processing and autonomous navigation. We aim to facilitate mission development by providing an extensive state-of-the-art review. We analyze recent advancements in hardware architectures for space on-the-edge applications. We explore the unique challenges of space environments, including radiation hardening, flexibility, and real-time processing needs. We identify the possible hardware accelerator architectures and assess their applicability on-board spacecraft. We examine key developments in hardware accelerators, general-purpose processors, and neuromorphic chips, with an emphasis on adaptability for space applications. We compare the available chips in terms of performance capabilities, power consumption, technology node and radiation hardening. We showcase future directions, offering a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge solutions for AI-driven space missions.