I’m part of a research laboratory that is developing methods for space rating the TX2/TX2i for use within satellite systems. Usually the downloads section for developers is really helpful, but we have been unable to find anything there.
A details list of materials will allow us to do what we need. To give you an idea, we need to characterize Total Mass Loss (TML), Collected Volatile Condensable Materials (CVCM), and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (COTE). Once we have that information on a few key materials we should be good.
What material is the solder mask made of?
Of the metals included, Is there any zinc or cadmium?
Are there any electrolytic capacitors on the PCB?
What is the board (PCB) material?
What is the solder pad coating? (It wouldn't happen to be 63% tin 37 % lead would it?)
In general, what types other, if any, of solder are used?
What is the blue heat transfer compound between the PCB/metal faces? (not the stuff attached to the heat sink with the fan)
in reference to the primary EAM-50-02.0-S-10-2-A-K-TR connector: What are the Body, Pin, Plating, and Part materials?
Has anyone here been able to confirm what materials are within the TX2/TX2i? Our lab would also be willing to sign an NDA with someone at Nvidia if necessary.
Hi, regarding your questions, will you actually do these tests or just work out from paper calculation? Generally Jetson is a consumer/industrial rating product, probably not not suitable for this case.
Our research lab has knowledge of and the facilities to perform space rating. However, we lack appropriate information about the materials to perform this task. So, like other PCBs/electronics, our lab plans to out-gas, bake, coat, stake, and perform other standard procedures to identify the best methods for space rating the TX2/TX2i. Additionally, I know of a few labs/companies with launches who plan to put a TX2/TX2i in space.
Hi calebashmoreadams, Jetson is an open platform so you are welcome to do with it what you wish, however understand that space/vacuum environment is outside of the official operating specifications of the device and as such you (and the other companies putting TX2/TX2i in space) are taking on the risk of doing so. There isn’t additional support provided by NVIDIA for assisting in these qualifications, and the extent of the documentation available is already available for download online.
If you require additional validation with deploying Jetson (unofficially) in this environment, it is recommended to contact someone from the ecosystem like AiTech whom have experience performing the testing independently from NVIDIA, which had been done using their own resources and knowledge and by their own volition.
Thank you Dusty, that helps a lot. I will reach out to AiTech and see what they have to say.
Again, the documentation is usually really helpful. Nvidia does a great job with that, seriously. It just so happens that in this case we needed more specific information about materials before we’re comfortable baking and zapping these boards to death, as specific materials could ruin our testing setups.
I do actually know of a program/collaboration between ESA and Nvidia that does support “new space” companies that want to deploy Jetson. I do not, however, know the extent of this program/collaboration. I am currently trying to find out if there is a similar program between NASA and Nvidia as well.
We found a solution: Typically Nvidia will have a rep that talks to researchers and coordinates with universities. They should also have one for companies. If you can figure out who this person is that is a good place to start. Additionally NASA Goddard has done some rad studies of the TX1, that is another good place to start.
As this can get kind of hairy, if anyone has any questions you can contact our lab at [url]http://smallsat.uga.edu/contact[/url] we are working to some solutions now.
There isn’t additional documentation available other than what is public.
There isn’t special technical support for them either on the embedded side. Typically these agencies are using NVIDIA discrete GPUs on the ground too.
You can apply to the NVIDIA Inception program. For technical product-related issues they will defer to the respective product teams (us for Jetson).
Anything NASA has done with TX1/TX2 in the rad chamber has been on their own, which they are free to do.