VEGA Microprocessors
![]() VEGA Processor logo | |
General information | |
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Designed by | Centre for Development of Advanced Computing |
Common manufacturers | |
Architecture and classification | |
Application | IoT, Storage, Smart NICs, Edge Analytics, Data Analytics, Autonomous Machines, Storage, Networking |
Instruction set | RISC-V |
Variants |
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VEGA Microprocessors (also referred to as VEGA processors) is an initiative to develop a portfolio of processors, and their hardware ecosystem, by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in India.[1][2] The portfolio includes several indigenously-developed processors based on the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA).[3][4][5]
The Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP) was initiated and funded by MeitY with the mission objective to design and develop indigenously, a family of Microprocessors, related IPs and the complete ecosystem to enable fully indigenous product development that meets various requirements in the strategic, industrial and commercial sectors. As part of the project C-DAC has successfully developed the VEGA series of microprocessors [6] in soft IP form, which include32-bit Single-core (In-order), 64-bit Single-core (In-order & Out-of-order), 64-bit Dual-core (Out-of-order), and 64-bit Quad-core (Out-of-order).

Vega processors are used in “Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge- Innovate Solutions for #Atmanirbhar Bharat”.[7][8][9][10]
Products
The initiative has developed the following product lines:[5]
- VEGA microprocessors
- ASTRA interface controllers
- THEJAS system on a chip - integrating VEGA and ASTRA devices
- ARIES microcontroller development boards
VEGA
The initiative has developed 5 RISC-V microprocessors run on FPGAs boards.[11] The ET1031 is a 32-bit processor, with all other processors being 64-bit.[11]
THEJAS
From the VEGA processor cores, 2 SOCs have been created running on the Digilent ARTY A7 FPGA.[11] Only the THEJAS32 has been taped-out for manufacturing for the ARIES microcontroller boards.[12]
ARIES
The ARIES microcontroller boards have been described by researchers as alternatives to Arduino Uno boards.[5][13] As of May 2023, the ARIES v3.0 board can be purchased for "around 1,000 Rs each, or about $12".[12]
SoCs
THEJAS32
THEJAS32 SoC [14] is built around VEGA ET1031, a 32-bit high performance microcontroller class processor consisting of a 3-stage in-order RISC-V based core. The peripherals available in THEJAS32 SoC are GPIO, Interrupt Controller, Timers, RAM, SPI, UART, I2C, PWM and ADC. This is targeted for applications like sensor fusion, smart meters, small IoT devices, wearable devices, electronic toys, etc. This SoC is ported on to Digilent Artix-7 35T FPGA development board, extensively used by the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge Participants. Also THEAJS32 SoC ASIC fabricated in SilTerra 130 nm technology.
THEJAS64
THEJAS64 SoC [14] is built around VEGA AS1061, a 64-bit processor with a 6-stage in-order pipeline optimized for high performance. This processor consists of an efficient branch predictor and instruction and data caches and is targeted for applications like IoT devices, motor control, wearable devices, high-performance embedded, consumer electronics and industrial automation. The peripherals available in this SoC are GPIO, Interrupt Controller, Timers, DDR3 RAM, SPI, UART, I2C, PWM, ADC and 10/100 Ethernet. This SoC is ported on to Digilent Artix-7 100T, Nexys A7, Genesys2 FPGA development boards, extensively used by the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge Participants.
VEGA ecosystem
The proposed SoCs from CDAC will contain Single/Dual/Quad core processor as the core and integrated with in-house developed silicon proven peripheral IPs suitable for various applications like Strategic, Industrial, Automotive, Health, Consumer, etc. The complete ecosystem available for Embedded Systems design with the VEGA processors consists of Board Support Packages, SDK [15] with integrated tool chain, IDE plug-ins and Debugger for the development, testing and debugging. Linux and other standard Operating Systems have been ported and are also available as part of the ecosystem.[16][17][18]
Tapeouts
THEJAS32
THEAJS32 ASIC fabricated in SilTerra 130 nm technology which operates at a frequency of 100 MHz. THEJAS32 SoC includes VEGA ET1031 Microprocessor, 256KB internal SRAM, Three UARTs, Four SPIs, Three TIMERs, Eight PWMs, Three I2C interface, 32 GPIOs etc.[19][18]
References
- ^ "CDAC all set to develop crucial technology indigenously". The Times of India. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "India to build 11 new supercomputers, with indigenous processors developed by C-DAC". The Print. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "India Preps RISC-V Processors". Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A RISC-V ISA-BASED IN-ORDER DUAL ISSUE SUPERSCALAR PROCESSOR" (PDF). RISC-V Summit. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Kaur, Roopmeet; Dash, Biswajeet; Shiney O, Jeba; Singh, Sukhpreet (19 July 2023). "Revolutionizing CanSat Technology with Vega Processors: A Comparative Study". 2023 2nd International Conference on Edge Computing and Applications (ICECAA): 1276–1282. doi:10.1109/ICECAA58104.2023.10212104. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "IIT Madras, CDAC jointly develop microprocessors". The Economic Times. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "स्वदेशी Microprocessor Challenge - Innovate Solutions for #आत्मनिर्भर भारत". My Gov India. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Government launches Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge". The Hindu BusinessLine. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge". PIB Delhi. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Govt launches Rs 4.3 cr contest to develop tech products using indigenous microprocessors". Outlook. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Aufranc, Jean-Luc (4 February 2022). "India goes RISC-V with VEGA processors - CNX Software". CNX Software - Embedded Systems News. CNXSoft. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b Aufranc, Jean-Luc (31 May 2023). "ARIES v3.0 development board features India-made VEGA RISC-V processor - CNX Software". CNX Software - Embedded Systems News. CNXSoft. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Sharma, Devansh; Kumar, Ashish; Dhall, Aryan; Tomar, Riya; Pundir, Vikrant Singh; Bhandari, Hemant (November 2023). "fficient Parking & Toll Management: A RFID-Enabled Approach with Vega Aries Development Board" (PDF). International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology. 8 (11): 1559–1564. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Thejas SoC's". VEGA Processors. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "C-DAC VEGA Processor". VEGA Processors. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "VEGA Ecosystem". VEGA Processors. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Welcome to VEGA documentation". VEGA Processors. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ a b "VEGA Processors YouTube channel". VEGA Processors. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Thejas SoC ASIC". VEGA Processors. Retrieved 7 April 2022.