AI applications enhance protection for satellite chips and superconducting magnets

Researchers are utilizing artificial intelligence to protect critical hardware from damage in extreme environments. At the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, scientists are using teams of AI programs to analyze radiation damage in microchips. This method allows for the examination of results in hours rather than days or weeks, potentially accelerating the development of radiation-hardened electronics for satellites and nuclear facilities.

In a separate development, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed the AI Quench Detection System (AI-QDS). This convolutional neural network is designed to protect superconducting magnets by distinguishing between disruptive magnetic interference and a dangerous loss of superconductivity within milliseconds. During testing at the High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator Facility, the system successfully identified quench events while filtering out false alarms caused by magnetic flux jumps.